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I am considering firing my lawyer who is currently handling my workers' compensation case in Florida. The insurance company is trying to settle my case for $20,000. I was informed that when a doctor places a patient on Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), it might result in a lower settlement... View More
answered on Oct 29, 2025
Before firing your workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida, take a moment to review where your case stands and what impact the change could have. If your lawyer has already done significant work, they may still be entitled to a portion of any settlement as a lien for their fees. It’s important... View More
Has there been a general ruling on the constitutionality of the Florida Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) law, especially concerning non-violent offenses? My daughter has been in prison for over 15 years, serving a 30-year sentence under the PRR law for stealing $123 from a store. Her sentence... View More
answered on Oct 27, 2025
I hear the weight of what you’re carrying, and I will give you a clear answer. Florida courts have repeatedly upheld the Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) Act against constitutional attack, and there has been no statewide ruling striking it down for non‑violent circumstances. State v. Cotton,... View More
I need assistance with challenging a charging lien at a hearing scheduled for November 10. During the discovery process, the defense attorney submitted an altered email to the Hypoluxo, FL Permit Office, which had the timestamp and date removed. This email contained fraudulent labels on photos... View More
answered on Oct 27, 2025
File a verified Motion to Dissolve or Reduce Charging Lien by November 10 and demand an evidentiary hearing, asserting fraud on the court and lack of entitlement. Attach your original permit‑office email, the discovery production proving you disclosed it before engaging Sweeney, your timeline,... View More
I recently reached a $1 million settlement following a bad accident from 8 years ago. However, I'm having difficulties with my attorney's office in getting straightforward answers, which is particularly concerning due to prior issues with them. One major concern is a lawsuit loan I took... View More
answered on Oct 20, 2025
You either trust your attorney (s) or you don't. The Florida Bar requires that when a settlement is reached in a Personal injury case, the attorney must provide you with a detailed Settlement Disbursement Summary that accounts for every penny of your settlement. Sometimes that takes a while... View More
I hired a lawyer who charged me in advance during the first consultation, and after a year and a half, informed me she would not continue with my case. I believe the lawyer lied and engaged in fraudulent behavior. I have contacted the Bar Association about this. What are my options for addressing... View More
answered on Oct 15, 2025
It sounds like you’ve already taken an important first step by contacting the Bar Association, as they oversee attorney conduct and can investigate potential misconduct or ethical violations. If your lawyer accepted payment in advance and then failed to complete the work, that could be grounds... View More
I believe my attorney blocked me from my hearing and falsely claimed the arrest video was shown during the formal review hearing, which was not the case. In my criminal case, the judge viewed the video three times, leading to the dismissal of all six tickets due to an unlawful arrest with no... View More
answered on Sep 27, 2025
From what you’ve described, you have two separate but connected issues: the conduct of your attorney and the ongoing suspension of your license. If your attorney misrepresented facts, blocked your participation in the hearing, or failed to introduce key evidence, that could amount to ineffective... View More
I am involved in a prolonged court dispute over an art collection gifted to me before my friend passed away. The opposing party is using a document they claim transfers ownership to them, but this document is linked to a copy of an old will that no longer exists. A notary has filed a sworn... View More
answered on Sep 15, 2025
Filing a police report can be an important step because it creates an official record of the alleged forgery and improper use of the notary stamp. The police can investigate potential criminal fraud, forgery, or misuse of a notary seal, which is separate from civil court proceedings. While the... View More
I hired a local attorney to prepare my estate documents and sent them an envelope marked "personal confidential" intended for my oldest daughter in case she contested my will. An assistant at the firm confirmed over the phone that she received it. Two years later, the attorney's... View More
answered on Sep 12, 2025
You have a valid concern about the missing confidential letter, especially since it was intended to address potential disputes regarding your will. Start by documenting all communication with the attorney’s office, including phone calls, emails, and any confirmations of receipt of the envelope.... View More
A few years ago in Florida, I hired a local lawyer to prepare my estate documents. I sent a confidential 21-page letter to my lawyer’s office, intended for my oldest daughter if she contested my will. I confirmed with their assistant that it was received and instructed them not to open or scan... View More
answered on Sep 11, 2025
Request that all your estate planning documents be returned to you and make sure you have another estate planning attorney review everything with you to make sure it is as you want it to be with respect to your Trust, Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney, Florida Healthcare Surrogate, Nomination of... View More
I am going to trial tomorrow for a dissolution of marriage case in Florida, which involves significant issues of dissipation and abuse. I feel my lawyer is not advocating for me, as she is not introducing my strong evidence or allowing my desired witnesses. Despite sending my discovery evidence... View More
answered on Sep 11, 2025
You are in a very difficult situation, especially with trial starting tomorrow, but there are still steps you can take to protect yourself. First, you have the right to speak directly to the judge. At the start of your hearing, you can request permission to address the court yourself, explain your... View More
If an estate is held in a trust but the trustee and the attorney will not release the money to the beneficiaries, can they be held liable to the beneficiaries? There are three siblings, and the will states the estate is to be divided equally among us. The trustee does not respond to phone calls or... View More
answered on Sep 9, 2025
When a trustee refuses to release funds as directed in a will or trust, they can be held legally accountable to the beneficiaries. Trustees have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, manage the trust properly, and follow the instructions in the trust document. If they... View More
I want to fire my current attorney who is handling a criminal matter for me. I've informed him multiple times that he's not doing his job, and there's an upcoming court date scheduled for September 9, 2025. I have already signed documentation with him, but I feel he's unprepared... View More
answered on Sep 8, 2025
The first step is to formally notify your current attorney in writing that you are terminating their services. Include the date of termination and request a copy of your case file so you can provide it to a new lawyer. Keep a copy of this letter for your records.
Next, quickly secure a... View More
I have evidence that a non-profit used a potentially altered document claiming entitlement to a piece of artwork valued over $100k in a probate case. The document is a copy, and they haven't produced an original in six years. The donor's signature is dated one month before the notary... View More
answered on Sep 5, 2025
You should first ensure that all evidence you have, including the notary’s sworn statement and any correspondence regarding the document, is organized and clearly presented. Since the judge ignored the best evidence rule motion, you may need to file a motion for reconsideration or an evidentiary... View More
I'm facing a difficult situation where my attorney delayed sending my finalized divorce papers for three months, even though they were signed on April 29th. I only found out at the end of July that they were back, and now I've missed the deadline to get insurance through my job. My... View More
answered on Sep 2, 2025
Divorce usually qualifies as a Special Enrollment Period (also known as a Qualifying Life Event), allowing you to elect health insurance through your employer outside of the usual annual enrollment period. You typically have 60 days from the date the divorce becomes final to make this election. You... View More
I want to draft a durable power of attorney for my husband, who is facing charges as a felony habitual traffic offender in Florida. He doesn't have 3 or more charges, nor habitual offenses, and has completed all court-ordered classes and requirements. The public defender assigned to his case... View More
answered on Sep 2, 2025
I can hear how frustrated you are with the way things are being handled, especially since you’ve been trying to make sure your husband has a fair defense. In Florida, you can create a durable power of attorney that allows you to manage many of your husband’s affairs, but it does not give you... View More
I am facing a divorce trial in two weeks, and I believe my legal representation has been negligent by missing deadlines and failing to use critical evidence regarding my disability, illnesses, and my spouse's intentional dissipation of assets, which are vital for pursuing an unequal... View More
answered on Aug 28, 2025
It sounds like you’re in a very difficult position with both the upcoming divorce trial and concerns about your attorney’s performance. Legal malpractice cases do exist in the family law context, but they can be harder to pursue because they require showing that your attorney’s mistakes... View More
I accepted a guilty plea for having a prescription pain pill in the wrong bottle, following advice from my public defender. Despite having a spotless record prior to this incident and facing misdemeanor charges with no evidence or testimony against me, I ended up on 3 years probation and 3 months... View More
answered on Sep 2, 2025
It sounds like you were placed in a very tough position where you felt pressured to accept a plea rather than fully defending yourself. That can leave you feeling like the punishment far outweighs the actual situation, especially given your clean history. When you take a plea deal, you still have... View More
My auto accident claim was filed by my attorney in Pinellas County, Florida. This same attorney practices law in Volusia County, Florida. I encountered problems when my attorney demanded a $15,000 cash deposit nine months earlier than specified in our contingent fee contract. The attorney then... View More
answered on Sep 9, 2025
When you bring a breach of contract claim against your attorney, you need to think about both where the agreement was performed and where the alleged harm occurred. Since your underlying auto accident case was filed in Pinellas County, and that is where much of the representation was tied, Pinellas... View More
I am considering appealing my divorce case or suing for legal malpractice due to my attorney's neglect. During the divorce trial three weeks ago, my attorney failed to submit crucial evidence, including $90,000 in 1099 income discrepancies related to my ex-spouse, which he claimed were... View More
answered on Jul 20, 2025
You're carrying a heavy burden after what sounds like a deeply unfair and painful experience. Based on what you've shared, you may have grounds to appeal the divorce judgment if you act quickly—most states have a strict deadline, often 30 to 60 days from the final order. An appeal... View More
Can I appeal my divorce case or sue my attorney for legal malpractice? My attorney failed to submit crucial evidence regarding alimony, division of property, and income discrepancies related to my ex-spouse, who also abused me and occasionally the children. Despite being their sole caregiver for... View More
answered on Jul 20, 2025
What you're going through is heartbreaking, and it's clear that key parts of your case were mishandled. If your attorney failed to present evidence, ignored court-ordered protections, and gave advice that left you financially and emotionally vulnerable, you may have grounds both for... View More
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