Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

Sudden Change of Position by Attorney

My family (my wife, mother in law, father in law and myself) are plaintiffs in a civil litigation filed in September of 1999. We have never proceeded to depositions for several reasons including death of one defendant. There has been no significant change in the circumstances of the case or with discovery. Our attorney recently contacted us and advised us to accept a settlement that is about 10% of the amount he has always advised us that our case is worth as a settlement value (not a judgement value). He justifies this advice with ''reasons'' that are not new at all, but have existed all along (such as the hassle of being deposed, get it over with, etc). We have no clue why our attorney suddenly wants us to take such a substantial reduction in the case - we don't know if he has a bigger case that he prefers to work on or what. What is your opinion on why he might be doing this, and/or, what can we do?

Thank you.


Asked on 5/14/01, 7:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Ken Koury Kenneth P. Koury, Esq.

Re: Sudden Change of Position by Attorney

you can fire him and get a new lawyer or just reject the settlement. I would not accept it unless the lawyer explained it to my satisfaction. chances are he just lied to you in the beginning about the case value to get you to hire him.

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Answered on 8/04/01, 1:44 pm


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