My question involves criminal law for the state of: Louisiana
I hired a lawyer a year ago when my house was raided and evidence was seized. I was not arrested at the time but was worried an arrest might come so I hired him.
At the time I did a little lawyer shopping and he came highly recommended. We agreed to $7,500 and that would cover up until a trial, and we would work out another deal if god forbid it came to a trial. Before I agreed to the deal though I insisted a clause be added in the likely event they didn't find the evidence and I had my things returned. The clause was worded - should I choose to terminate the lawyer's service I would be billed at $250/hr and returned whatever remained of the $7,500.
Here's the unusual part. A year passes and he is able to retrieve my things and presumably the investigation is over. Obviously Im happy with his work and ecstatic with the end result, but now he's arguing that he's entitled to keep the full amount on account that the contract has been completed.
My argument is that the spirit of the clause was for this exact scenario and now he's trying to wiggle out of it. I guess the argument is what ends the contract since it was kind of loosely written? I would argue a plea deal or the start of a trial would end the contract, as I could still technically be charged.
Is this worth arbitrating with the LA state bar? I obviously would like to avoid it and be done with this thing but we're likely arguing over $5k or more.
I hired a lawyer a year ago when my house was raided and evidence was seized. I was not arrested at the time but was worried an arrest might come so I hired him.
At the time I did a little lawyer shopping and he came highly recommended. We agreed to $7,500 and that would cover up until a trial, and we would work out another deal if god forbid it came to a trial. Before I agreed to the deal though I insisted a clause be added in the likely event they didn't find the evidence and I had my things returned. The clause was worded - should I choose to terminate the lawyer's service I would be billed at $250/hr and returned whatever remained of the $7,500.
Here's the unusual part. A year passes and he is able to retrieve my things and presumably the investigation is over. Obviously Im happy with his work and ecstatic with the end result, but now he's arguing that he's entitled to keep the full amount on account that the contract has been completed.
My argument is that the spirit of the clause was for this exact scenario and now he's trying to wiggle out of it. I guess the argument is what ends the contract since it was kind of loosely written? I would argue a plea deal or the start of a trial would end the contract, as I could still technically be charged.
Is this worth arbitrating with the LA state bar? I obviously would like to avoid it and be done with this thing but we're likely arguing over $5k or more.
Legal Fees: Disagreement Over When a Legal Fee is Earned
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire