Ssdi attorney resigns
 

My attorney just informed me that he is resigning from my case effective immediately. Does anyone know if he is entitled to any fees if another attorney takes over the case? Remember that I did not termnate him, he resigned. This has put me in a real bad situation as my case is almost 8 years old and my 3rd hearing is coming up. Please help

thanks

The only fees the attorney is entitled to is out of pocket expenses. If any, he will send you an itemized bill which you should scrutinize with a fine tooth comb.

If you hire another attorney, make sure your new attorney gets all of your records from the old attorney and/or you send your new attorney your records if you kept copies.

Good luck at your 3rd hearing! :hug:

Re: not nice of attorney
 

Sorry your SSDI Attorney flew the coop. Did he offer a kindness and tell you why? If you have had him 8 years, I agree with the other post. If he sends you a bill, go over it carefully. Get all your records, and a copy of all actions he has taken on your behalf. I would be pretty upset too, to tell you the truth. I hope you are able to find a new representative for your next step. He should have also offered you a referral to someone to continue your case. Sorry that happened to you. ginnie

cant see why your attorney would tuck his tail between legs and run for(.i can see my doctor doing that;))real sorry to hear that:(

Ssi advocate allsup
 

Gosh thats trerrible after all this time. My friend used this advocacy group and got her disability in 8 months and they were 'Free'. Allsup Advocacy Group, 1-866-502-8372, & she says they work with folks nationwide. Good Luck

Same thing happened to me
 

Mine did the same to me, I have really been depressed since it happened. Isn't there any law for attorneys to give one more notice? I don't see how they can do it simply because they don't feel like doing anything anymore. My attorney did very little & still has not signed off or sent me my file. Is there any law to how long they have to send someone's file to them? This leaves me at a big disadvantage. I don't know who his office tried to contact and who they didn't. They sure cashed my two checks quickly though, they had no problem doing that. I paid for NOTHING.:confused:

Hi Zevan
 

I am so sorry this was done to you too. There is a lack of moral obligaion there. You may have to go there in person to collect the records that are yours. You also have a right to know exactly what they did for the money you gave them. You can ask for an itemized list. To me it sounds like they had their hands out for your money but failed to do anything, even send you to another representative. This kind of situation is sad to happen to anyone, especially those of us who are disabled and trying desperately to get help. I don't even know you, yet I feel bad that this occured. I hope you get a better representative. ginnie

You're right
 

Thank you for your message. It is very sad how some attorneys are ALLOWED to take advantage of disabled people and then get away with it. Sometimes I think they are paid off by the SS department to drop people to make sure they never win their claims. I can't figure why else they would take cases to then just drop them. Now I'm out money I will never get back. When I requested my money back, my ex attorney laughed and said he'll see if there is anything left to send. Like I said, I still haven't even received my file or anything showing he has signed off. Suddenly I'm just told goodbye; it actually made it even worse it happened the morning after Christmas when my family was visiting.

Hi Zevan
 

Fight to get your records. You should be allowed to know exactly what he did do for the money. I get angry too when people are taken advantage of. There is no excuse in what he did to you. He was just morally wrong and had no compassion. His disrespect he showed you attests to what kind of soul he has. Not so good. I hope you can find good representation. if you were here in Fla. I would send you to the gentleman who helped me. I had the opposite care. A good person to represent me, who stuck with me all the years it took to get my disability. I so hope you can find that help too. ginnie

Zevan why were you paying in advance? Social Security disability lawyers usually work on a contingency basis meaning they dont get paid unless you win.

Hello Echoes
 

Your responce is what I was thinking about but didn't voice. Usually the lawyers wait to get pay until your are given the check. It is taken out of that first Check. I think this was a very bad lawyer, who took money and did not work. I felt very bad over this, as you don't go for this whole process gladly. It is difficult and frustrating. This lawyer should be reported, since you thought of this as I did. I didn't want to make him feel worse about being dropped than he already did. thank you for voicing what you did. ginnie

They have no choice! SS sends the $$$ to the attorney.

Yes, exactly!
 

Dear MZ, yes that was how it is suppose to work. Why then did that attorney charge in advance and then dump him? That to me is a fishy situation. I am not sure I would not have demanded an explaination along with all my records. ginnie

Zane has not been seen here since 1/12 and/or is lurking. :D
Too many holes in his/her post. Zane needs to clarify a few things.

thanks MZ
 

I am paying attention, thank you. ginnie

My lawyer was paid $450.00 to call people, doctors & run hospital records. From what I understand, a lawyer is allowed to charge for this; however, my attorney did not give me an accounting of who he contacted & what was even said. I'm left confused. I don't feel like I'm leaving holes out in my statements. I'm not on here everyday; I am not a lurker or someone who has nothing better to do than to post on a board. I've heard of a lot of attorneys dropping clients. I tried to help the OP by explaining it also happened to me & how sad it is.:(

how did your attorney get your money in the first place to be able to keep it without presenting you with an itemized bill first? that is the question that is being asked. usually lawyers are paid out of your back pay by social security and there might be a few hundred dollars of incidental expenses on top of that, but that is after a case has been concluded, usually after a period of years.

Explanation
 

The no good attorney I had made me pay money first in order to take my case because I am past the insured date. This is why!!!!! He did not send me an itemized statement of what he did, he just dropped me. I hope this explains your confusion. There is obviously nothing I can do other than to sue him; however, that cost more money to do that. I'm sorry you can't understand.

contact the bar association in your state. also contact social security and notify them as to what your lawyer has done.

Re: report it
 

[Dear Zevan, I agree with the post here too. You should report this. What he did is not the normal thing to do. It goes against how your case should have been handled. If you do nothing, he would be free to do this to someone else. Your SS agency can do something about it. Maybe you could get a refund. Good luck to you. ginnie

According to their website, they only get paid if you are approved. The also say they have a 97 or 98% approval rating. Maybe they only take cases they think are a sure thing.