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General
- Doctor Misdiagnoses Woman and Fails to Complete Full Examination; Woman Dies Days Later!
- Study Finds Hospital Acquired Infections Greatly Impact ICU Deaths
- Medical Malpractice and Res Ipsa Loquitur: An Explanation
- Medical Malpractice Liability and Nurses; Why Nurses are being sued More and More Often
- Emergency Room Medical Malpractice; Kingston, New York Attorney Discusses
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Library
General
- Discover how you can win your lawsuit by taking Three Simple Steps in Kingston, New York
- How I learned a lesson in life from a shyster lawyer
- The Day My Hero Died
- Discover how you can get the special services for your disabled child in an Individualized Education Plan in Kingston, New York
- Discover how you can get top-notch health insurance for your family for less than $200 a month in Kingston, New York
Can my lawyer drop me as a client if I don't want to settle in Kingston, New York?
A: Absolutely not!
There is only one person who decides whether you settle the case...YOU. Your lawyer is simply acting as your agent and you are the principal--this means that you are the boss.
Some lawyers may try to strong-arm you to accept the first settlement offer they get. Not a good sign at all. While it is an important part of the attorney's responsibility to give you advice whether to accept a settlement offer, the decision belongs solely to you.
While hard to believe, there are some lawyers who settle cases without their client's knowledge. That's right--the client does not know until after the fact that his/her case settled. In this situation, the attorney may rely upon a provision in the retainer agreement or a power of attorney that gives the lawyer the authority to settle the case without the client's knowledge or permission. This is precisely why you must read the retainer agreement and all other documents very carefully--you may be signing away your rights!
What you can do to protect yourself
Here's a sample of the language included in every retainer agreement that I use: "It is understood and agreed that neither the client nor [me, John Fisher] shall settle any claims arising out of this incident without first having obtained the consent thereto of the other." It's simple: I can't settle your case without your permission.
My retainer agreement explicitly states that I cannot settle your lawsuit without first obtaining your permission. You want to make sure that the law firm that you hire has the same language in its retainer agreement.
You should never be pressured to make the decision whether to settle
If your lawyer gives you an ultimatum that you must settle or he/she will quit as your lawyer, then you are better off having the lawyer quit. You don't want him as your lawyer.
You are the one who must live with your decision, while your lawyer simply moves on to the next case. You should never feel pressured by your lawyer to do anything, especially when it comes to the decision whether to settle. If you don't know what to do, tell your lawyer you will take as much time as you need to make your decision. Your decision should never be rushed.
What you can do if you want more information
If you have questions or want more information, I welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can send me an e-mail at jfisher@mmolaw.net. You are always welcome to request a FREE copy of my book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.
Free Book
The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims
ONE BIG PROMISE
You will not be another of the 98,000 victims of medical malpractice in the United States in 2009 if you read my FREE BOOK. I have a book that will tell you why most victims of medical malpractice never recover a penny. If you are the victim of medical malpractice, we will rush this free, valuable information so you know what to do. If you don't call now, you have only yourself to blame.
You will never have to worry about medical malpractice again if you call this toll-free number, 866-889-6882, for your free book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, and an audio CD of the book, or you can request the book here and the book will be rushed to you immediately at no cost.
(New York residents only)
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Free Case Evaluation
Begin your case review by filling out the form below or call us at 866.689.9692
John H. Fisher
130 North Front Street
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Fax: 845-331-2004
Toll Free: 866.889.6882
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Contact Info
John H. Fisher
130 North Front Street
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Fax: 845-331-2004
Toll Free: 866.889.6882
Video Library
General:
- Personal Injury Attorney In New York Is Motivated By The Difference His Case Results Make In Peoples Lives
- How To Know Which Law Firm Is Right For You According To Medical Malpractice Attorney In New York
- Knowing You Are The Victim Of Medical Malpractice Can Be Tricky According To New York Attorney
FAQ
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- What is the best way to reduce (or even eliminate) photocopy expenses in your law practice in Kingston, New York?
- Why you should never pay attention to lawyer advertisements when hiring a lawyer in Kingston, New York?
- What is the #1 way to defeat a subrogation claim against your injury compensation in New York?