What to Do If Your Case is Rejected
WHAT TO DO IF THE TV LAW FIRM REJECTS YOUR CASE You know those law firms, the ones that advertise on TV every morning – the ones that brag about their toughness, their winning record, and all their success. What happens if you call their number and they tell you that they are not interested in your case? This is usually because your case is difficult and they are not interested in cases that have to go to court. These TV law firms are looking for simple cases that they can quickly settle. The Meehan Law...
Read MoreClayton Divorce Law firm Haunted By Use of Emails
This month saw a well-known Clayton law firm, the Hais Law Firm, embroiled in controversy over the unauthorized use of an opponent’s e-mails in divorce litigation. The case stems from a custody dispute that was conducted before the Hon. Barbara Wallace in St. Louis County in March 2011. At that time, the Court was shocked to find out that the Hais Law firm had used unauthorized e-mails that had been hacked by Hais’ client. Judge Wallace found in her Order that the Haises had knowingly utilized the e-mails and...
Read MoreDivorce Clients Need to be Wary of Evergreen Retainer Arrangements
A new development in the representation of divorce clients has been the adoption of evergreen retainer arrangements. Several firms that advertise for domestic litigation, notably Cordell & Cordell, require clients to provide them with unrestricted access to a credit card that automatically renews the retainer to some arranged amount. This is known as an evergreen retainer. The danger in such an arrangement is that it grants a law firm unlimited access to funds and serves as an incentive to generate as many...
Read MoreSt. Louis Attorney Steals from Clients
Stephen Evans, a lawyer who had his office in South St. Louis, pled guilty to fraud through stealing settlement checks belonging to his clients. To read the full story, click here.
Read MoreWhy You Should Not Hire a “TV Attorney”
We’ve all seen the ads. Loud, in-your-face commercials where a rough-and-tough attorney claims to be the best lawyer in town. Unfortunately, their claims of success and effectiveness do not meet with the reality of their legal skills. Is this the kind of lawyer you want representing you? There are many perils in picking a TV lawyer. First, many of the TV advertising firms do not even have offices in the State of Missouri. These are national law firms that collaborate with a local firm to be their local mailbox....
Read MoreLegal Malpractice: Should I Take My Attorney to Small Claims Court?
Legal malpractice cases have a high burden of proof, and it is often difficult to find legal representation while pursuing a lawsuit against another attorney. Some people choose to lower the stakes and take their attorney to small claims court where attorney representation is often unnecessary. This is typically not a smart or easy solution, however. According to a study by the National Center for State Courts, 20% of defendants in small claims court win outright. In another 20% of the cases, the defendant is...
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