The Lamest Excuse Deserves Grievance

[Msaural]

I have been helping a friend of mine who lives in SC, answering some of her questions. We got on the topic of her husband's SSI/SSD claim and she explained to me that they had initially filed, his claim was denied, they took the matter to a local attorney, who filed for reconsideration and the claim was denied again. During the pendency of the reconsideration, they moved, but were still located within the same town. She visited the attorney's office and provided the receptionist with their new address and telephone number. After they received a denial of the reconsideration, these poor people thought his claim was dead in the water. They did not hear from the attorney. It wasn't until at my insistence and after discussing this, telling her that the case does not die upon denial of reconsideration unless the deadline for filing to the next step expires, that she contacted the attorney's office and an appointment was scheduled for them to come in, the attorney telling them he needed them to sign a paper. So yesterday they saw the attorney, who told them that he hasn't done anything on the case since the reconsideration was denied because he couldn't get in touch with them. He also told them that he had incurred some expenses, but that he was waiving those because he knows they have no money. He told them that he no longer wished to represent them and then he had them sign a document terminating his representation. I feel this couple should file a grievance against this attorney. Because he did nothing the time for filing the next step expired and now the husband must start all over with his claim. There was absolutely no excuse for him not being able to get in touch with them even if he neglected to note their new address and telephone number, they live in the same town, do not have a private telephone number and could have been located simply by calling information or looking them up in the telephone book or even doing a people search on the internet. What it comes down to is that he didn't do anything further on the case and thinks the poor people aren't smart enough to realize it. I have talked to her about filing a grievance with the bar association. Does anyone agree that this should be pursued?

 

[KCGirl]

Ummmm, that would be negatory I guess!