Other Criminal Charges & Offenses My lawyer screwed me

[DividedWeFall]

Not literally, but he may as well have. I had never been arrested this lawyer calls saying I'm facing four years in prison, I'm in shock and sign a $8500 contract. He only spent four hours on my case. He didn't show up to the first hearing, can I use this against him for not keeping to his end of the contract so I can get out of it?

 

[army judge]

Not literally, but he may as well have. I had never been arrested this lawyer calls saying I'm facing four years in prison, I'm in shock and sign a $8500 contract. He only spent four hours on my case. He didn't show up to the first hearing, can I use this against him for not keeping to his end of the contract so I can get out of it?

You might want to investigate if dude was a real CA licensed lawyer.
What you've described is a rather old scam.

You can fie a complaint with the CA Bar Association, if its real, I sure would.


http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Attorneys/LawyerRegulation/ComplaintForm.aspx

 

[DividedWeFall]

No!! He is one of Fresno's top Criminal Defenders. He was so nice and acted like he was on my side. What I really need to know is if I can get out of the contract because he did not show up to one of the hearings, basically not completing his side of the contract.

 

[mightymoose]

The answer is in your contract. What service was provided? Were you somehow harmed by the no-show? Was the hearing rescheduled? Is the case still pending? Have you contacted the attorney about it?

 

[DividedWeFall]

Yes the hearing was rescheduled and he showed up that time, I wasn't harmed legally by the first no-show, just looking for a way out of this ridiculous contract. I just feel there should be something that protects first time idiots like me against being railroaded by lawyers. Apparently there isn't.

 

[army judge]

Yes the hearing was rescheduled and he showed up that time, I wasn't harmed legally by the first no-show, just looking for a way out of this ridiculous contract. I just feel there should be something that protects first time idiots like me against being railroaded by lawyers. Apparently there isn't.

There is a protection.
I never sign any contract without thinking about it for 24 hours minimum.
If the other party won't permit you time to deliberate a decision, that's an indicator of it being a bad deal for you.