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- Panel Sparks Controversy Again with New Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines
- Doctor Misdiagnoses Woman and Fails to Complete Full Examination; Woman Dies Days Later!
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- Medical Malpractice Liability and Nurses; Why Nurses are being sued More and More Often
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- 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
If I lose my case, do I owe money to my lawyer for thecase expensesin Kingston, New York?
A: That depends. You must read the "fine print" on your retainer agreement.
The retainer agreement controls your rights and responsibilities in your relationship with lawyer. Yet, incredibly, few persons read the retainer agreement! (this never ceases to amaze me).
Until several years ago, you ("the client") were always responsible for the case expenses, known as "disbursements" in New York. If you lose your case, there was no legal fee, but you still had to pay your attorney for the case expenses. This means, win or lose, you were "on the hook" for case expenses, which can range from $15,000 in a small case to as much as $150,000. Not a pretty picture if you're on the wrong end of a lawsuit. Many of my clients would face personal bankruptcy if they had to reimburse the case expenses.
Now, things have changed (fortunately for you). Your lawyer is ethically permitted to advance the case expenses of your case without any expectation of reimbursement. In other words, if you lose your case, you don't owe your lawyer a penny.
But there's a catch and it's a big one. Attorneys are "permitted" (but not required) to advance case expenses without any expectation of reimbursement from you. Some lawyers still insist that you are ultimately responsible for case expenses whether win or lose.
So, what do you do? Read your retainer agreement carefully! The retainer agreement will have a paragraph stating whether you are responsible for case expenses if you lose your case. You want to make sure that the retainer agreement states clearly and concisely that you are not responsible for case expenses whether you win or lose your case.
Do not accept your lawyer's word when it comes to your responsibility for case expenses. If your lawyer tells you that you will not have to pay the case expenses whether you win or lose your case, make sure that promise is in writing and preferably on the retainer agreement.
You cannot afford to get stuck with a $50,000 bill at the end of your case. The only way to make sure that doesn't happen is to insist upon a specific provison in the retainer agreement stating that you will not be responsible to reimburse your lawyer for case expenses. If your lawyer refuses, it may be time to find a new lawyer.
If you have any questions or want more information, I welcome your phone call on my cell at 866-889-6882. You are always welcome to request my FREE 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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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
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