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Questions Answered by Patrick William Steinfeld
4 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Civil Litigation and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: Is it possible to sue a attorney for not giving a valid reason why he chose to disengage the representation of a client

Today my attorney emailed me saying he chooses not to represent me in a personal injury type of situation. He hasn’t given me any reason of why he chose not to continue with my claim. He dragged my case on for eight months since the start of my claim and just left me. I don’t know what to do... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Mar 15, 2023

It is not illegal for an attorney to remove themselves from a case without stating a reason. Why? Well... because one day an attorney did just that... they removed themselves from representation for a specific reason. Later another attorney found out that the reason given was wrong. So guess... Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: What happens if my attorney is suing the wrong entity of 711 for premise liability?

My attorney filed a lawsuit against 7-11 franchise for a stabbing I sustained on 711 premises. Opposing counsel for 711 corporate is saying they are not liable and to go after property owners. What are my options if I dont win. Is my attorney at fault since he has dealt with 7-11 claims. Thanks

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Mar 9, 2023

Your option is to ask your attorney. Generally everyone is named as a defendant for this very reason. Of course corporate is going to say they are not liable... just as the franchisee is going to say they are not liable. Your attorney can (presumably) amend their complaint to add another party...... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for California on
Q: Pro Se representation, personal injury

personal injury case. I have an extensive work already done - depositions taken, witnesses asked), an expert hired, medical seen, but haven't done it with the defense lawyer's side on their end. Can I still represent myself with these court procedings instead of going out and hiring an... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Feb 21, 2023

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you "haven't done it with the defense lawyer's side on their end."

Yes you can continue representing yourself.

This really boils down to a costs vs. benefits issue. Generally, if one side has an expert then all sides...
Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Personal Injury and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: settlement is reached b4 filing a lawsuit then attorneys fees will be 33%. PI never served complaint? Still a lawsuit?

Personal injury lawyer never served complaint after filing it and summons. Complaint did not outline my case, my injuries or defendants negligence.

On (date): July 19, 2019 plaintiff was injured on the following premises in the following.

Prem.L-4.

fashion (description... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Feb 20, 2023

I don't think you'll find a new lawyer to take over because your new lawyer would have to share fees with your current attorney. Sometimes filing is necessary to leverage a settlement. So there may be a valid reason for the lawsuit. However, there are some attorneys who will file a... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice for California on
Q: I want to file a malpractice suit, lawyers state I may have a claim, but do not want to take it because of cost.

What can I do?

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Feb 21, 2023

Med-mal cases are expensive and California has a cap on recoveries making these claims expensive in relation to the recovery. Call some medical malpractice attorneys on this site.

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3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: PI Litigation attorney wants to withdraw from plantiff's case 2 weeks before settlement conference.

Plantiff finished deposition, requested defendant provide deposition, PL atty stated it wasn't necessary because defendant would just lie. My witness is scheduled for his deposition. Without reason or warning stated he is withdrawing from a case he stated was asking $300,000- 1 million.... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Feb 16, 2023

Something is wrong with your case. It may be liability... it may be damages... it may be that the defendant is judgment proof or it may be your attorney grossly overestimated the value of your case. Attorneys are not in the habit of walking away from a potential $1mil. settlement. Right? I suspect... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Criminal Law and Appeals / Appellate Law for California on
Q: what happens when the victim of a crime is anattorney and the case is heard in the local court where they are known?

Here is a question sent to my partners public defender by me.

The judge mentioned that the person who was affected by the incident was an attorney who had professional connections with the court and was known by staff at the DA office and the court as well as the judge himself. Neither... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Feb 10, 2023

The Code of Civil Procedure 170.6 says a judge can be disqualified from presiding over a civil lawsuit or criminal trial if the judge seems to be prejudiced against one of the parties or attorneys.

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2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice for California on
Q: Does malpractice still count if you were never someone's patient? If it was your friend's unofficial diagnosis?

My friend misdiagnosed me and I was stuck in the hospital for a mental disease. I was never his official patient. Does this count as malpractice?

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Feb 6, 2023

I assume your friend is a Dr???? A misdiagnosis by itself does not constitute malpractice. If you believe there is malpractice here consult with a medical malpractice lawyer on this site.

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4 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: How do I change law firms once I signed on?
Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 30, 2023

If you have a new attorney they will handle everything. If not... send a letter to your current attorney saying you are terminating their representation and request your entire case file. The attorney is required to provide your file in a timely manner. That's all there is to it. Pretty... Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Health Care Law for California on
Q: Doctor abandons me as a 10 year patient How much notice should I be given to find a new doctor.

I have been a patient for 10 years thru 6 surgeries. 3 back, 1 neck, and 1 neck pending. I am 70, and disabiled I have chronic back and neck pain. He has prescribed me morphine long acting, and Norco for pain for the last 8 years, I am between surgeries back surgery in November and neck surgery... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 30, 2023

Contact your health care provider and ask them for a referral to a pain specialist.

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5 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: Lawsuit in discovery mode… when am I getting a settlement offer?… finished treatment Dec.8th now. IT’s January 28th…

Incident happened August 24th (nied)… treated for 3 months… last session was dec.7th…. Called attorney says claim is in discovery mode….. how long left til claim is done? When should I expect a settlement offer?

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 29, 2023

The best person to ask would be your attorney. Is there a pending lawsuit or a pending claim? If it's a claim against the adverse insurance company, then settlement can takes from weeks to months. If there is a lawsuit the settlement will probably come after discovery... which generally takes... Read more »

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4 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Personal Injury and Small Claims for California on
Q: what type of lawyer would I need if I did a medical research study and was told wrong information about the study.

I was told wrong information about what I was participating in and had I known I would not have participated.

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 24, 2023

Before thinking about a lawyer consider the value of your claim. Lawyers are expensive and their fees may exceed the value of a potential recovery. Consider small claims court if the value of your claim is less than $10,000.

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6 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: When I was hit by u/m I was sitting in my car parked not driving I went to hospital went to chiro Had whiplash

MRI for my headache's and neck pain have bulging disk no surgeries no more medical visits I've been told were waiting on medical lien that it would be 30-60 days but it's been over 6 months it's been a struggle since day 1 and still is should I call my insurance co IDK what to... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 23, 2023

It's not fair. There are a lot of uninsured motorists driving in California. The only way to protect yourself and your family is if you have UM (Uninsured Motorist) Coverage. You can find this on your Declarations page of your policy. The Decl page is a summary of your coverage. If you have... Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was hit by an uninsured motorist who was at fault yr1/2 ago, I had liability with u/m still waiting on settlement why

I wasn't driving I was sitting in my car and was slammed from behind still waiting for my settlement my lawyer isn't keeping in contact to make it worse what should I do

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 23, 2023

It depends. Your question raises a lot of questions that we don't have answers to. We don't know the status of your claim. I'm not sure what you mean when you say you are "waiting on settlement." Does that mean you are waiting for the claim to be settled... or do you mean... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Foreclosure, Personal Injury, Real Estate Law and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: Which type of attorney handles cases relating to suing the city for negligence against residential inhabitants?

The city has allowed warehouses to box my house in on all four sides and for the past few years, it has been a living hell with warehouse owners, construction workers, and big rig drivers, noise, etc. My children can no longer be outside to play. I tried Personal Injury attorneys, but they said... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 17, 2023

This is a question for real estate and zoning attorneys. Good luck.

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I have an issue don't know if it's illegal or just excessively indecent. The issue involves gangstalking at home.

Being gangstalked all hours of the day neighbors affiliated with the around the clock noise campaign has been disturbing my peace repeatedly in a targeted coordinated situation I find myself in evidence is up to videos I have recorded. From reapeted speech and behaviors aimed at harassing... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 11, 2023

Because of the "emotional damage" gang-stalking has caused you, consider reaching out to your local city/county for counseling services. Lawyers often refer their injured clients to psychologists in order to treat their "emotional damage" caused by a serious accident. The police... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was involved in a single vehicle accident in California where I had fallen asleep at the wheel.

After falling asleep at the wheel the road turned left and I continued straight going off the road and crashed into a 2ft tall stump. Broke my back in 3 location and fractured my leg. The stump I hit was located 18ft from the roadway in the r.o.w. (design standards state min 30ft) it did not have... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Jan 6, 2023

Assuming the facts stated in your question are correct you may have a claim against CalTrans. It is foreseeable that a driver may fall asleep or lose control of their car and crash into a stump that is in violation of their own standards. So that may create some liability on the part of CalTrans.... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: I want to Safeway and has a verbal interaction with one employee and when the exchange was over security guard assaulted

After the interaction as I was walking away the security guard runs after me and tries to grab me stating that I was kicked out alleging criminal threats long story short after I requested a manager or the police I was denied both and instead a dose of pepper spray and drug out of the store by the... Read more »

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Dec 18, 2022

Without knowing what the "verbal interaction" was it's impossible to advise. So contact your local county bar referral service for a referral to an attorney.

4 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: Should I change my deposition if I said I graduated college and I didn’t? I’m a non-party witness in a personal injury

I was just deposed two days ago, I will be able to correct it. I’m just unsure if it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Dec 18, 2022

If you don't change it and you are caught it looks like an intentional misrepresentation. If you serve an errata sheet then you'll be asked why you said you graduated from college when you didn't. It's better to be called out after correcting an error than after a misrepresentation.

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5 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: I finished all of my therapy treatment for my lawsuit, what will be the next step?

I have a letter from the company admitting there allegations, what do you believe will happen? Do you think they will accept my offer for $500,000?

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
answered on Nov 30, 2022

Half a million is a big number and must be supported by significant injuries. You didn't provide any factual, medical or financial information to support your number. For a large damage claim of this size you should consult with an attorney on this forum. Consultations are always free and your... Read more »

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