Q: My lawyer has held my settlement for 7 weeks. He didn’t contact any medical providers to pay them. Should I report him
I just starting questioning my attorney on why it’s taking so long to receive my settlement money. We settled 7 wks ago. He claimed he was paying medial liens. I called them and they all said no one ever called them. Then he said he needs to deposit the check in the trustee Acct. It’s been sitting in billing for 7wks. I’m so worried . He keeps making up lies to delay giving me my money & I’ve caught him in these lies. Should I report him to the Nj state bar association? He said I can pick my check up once it clears hopefully Tuesday but I feel ge will make another excuse.
A: This is a tough one, since I don't know who your lawyer is and if he/she is honorable. That being said, if you were on Medicare or Medicaid, especially Medicaid, it can take up to several months to determine the Medicaid lien. If the delay is about unpaid medical bills then 7 weeks is too long because you can usually resolve those matters within one weeks time. You are right to feel suspicious, especially if you have caught him in lies. Before going to the Ethics Committee, make an in person appointment and get an explanation face to face. If you do not get a credible answer, you are left with no other choice.
A: It's difficult to know what's going on with the liens without seeing the file. Some public health liens can take months to settle. If that's the case, it could be outside an attorney's hands. Good luck
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