I was in a motor vehicle accident in May of 1999, I had to have open heart surgery and my bill got up to 22,000, I hired a lawyer and he told me not to worry about it, that my health insurance from my place of employment would pay them. So I signed off on the settlement, I started getting bills and ask him what I should do with them. He said dont worry its just taking time for your insurance to pick them up. So I let them go, he later discovered that my insurance plan was a Self Funded Arisa plan and they dont pay 3rd party bills. Considering it was the other driver's fault. I have been sued by The University Of Wisconsin Madison and threatened with wage garnishments at that time. I have not heard or gotten anything from them in more than 5yrs I have a Civil Judgment for 21,000, How long do civil judgments stay on my record.