Overbilling by Lawyers

Maura Dolan’s July 16 article on lawyers overbilling hit right on the mark. Unfortunately she didn’t really address the main problem, that of the everyday working stiff who either instigates a lawsuit or is dragged into one. My wife and I were sued by her former partner; she countersued. That was in 1991. Over the next two years, the attorneys we had retained managed to run up a fee bill of $70,000 without having taken a deposition.

When we questioned, them the answer was always, “You’re not a lawyer, let us do our work.” Remember, with a billing attorney, as long as the clock is running time is not of the essence. When we left them after a fee dispute and lack of action and results on their part, we chose to go to binding arbitration through the auspices of the County Bar Assn. fee disputes service. Again, client beware. We were charged 5% of the disputed amount as the fee; the attorneys paid nothing. Once at your hearing, you will be faced with anywhere from one to three attorneys who will conduct “a hearing” to listen to your complaint. This is a good old boys club, and you have as much chance here as in a kangaroo court.

My advice to the average person is to take your complaint to court. If you have a major fee dispute, ask for a jury because you will more likely receive a fair judgment from 12 individuals like you than from any combination of lawyers. Take it from one who has been there!

LARRY SCHWARTZ

Van Nuys

I read with interest your article describing the alleged overcharging on bills by attorneys. While the subject is likely of little interest to non-lawyers (unless they happen to require the services of a lawyer), it is disappointing to learn that the legal profession appears to be the latest group to fall into the trenches long inhabited by other white-collar criminals.

Any person who steals from another, be it $1 or $1 billion, should be immediately and severely punished. The larger problem that this represents for society, a general lack of accountability for one’s actions, can now be found in all walks of American life. It seems that no matter what the obvious crime, we feel that we can talk our way out of it or take advantage of a legal system that is well-equipped to coddle the criminal, but unable to mete out swift and just punishment.

As a member of the State Bar in California and Pennsylvania, I find it appalling that any attorney would charge his client for food under any circumstances.

My advice in regard to hiring legal counsel is to remember that attorneys have a duty to inform the client that all legal fees are negotiable. I believe that 99.9% of our attorneys have very high ethical standards. Whether the client is a sophisticated consumer of legal services or not, he or she should attempt to locate the most talented lawyer with the highest ethical standards.

KEVIN H. PARK

North Hollywood

Congratulations on “When the Lawyer’s Bill Is Out of Bounds.” The justice system charges for chateaubriand and delivers Kal-Kan.

CAROL MUELLER

Rancho Palos Verdes