Legal Question in Personal Injury in Pennsylvania

settlement $'s

How long can a lawyer hold onto a settlement check without giving the client some paper work. Claims a lien has been placed against the settlement. He rece ck in March 07. Case has been going on since 1999!


Asked on 6/04/07, 9:40 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Richard Teitell Richard K. Teitell, Esquire, P.C.

Re: settlement $'s

You should be able to receive your share of the settlement, less any lien, now. It is possible that substantial time is needed to get the lien amount established/reduced, especially if it's a Medicare lien or worker's comp. However, if your request, your lawyer should provide you with a status report on the lien, & copies of any letters or other documents concerning the lien. Good luck!

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Answered on 6/04/07, 11:34 pm
John Gibson John W. Gibson, Esquire

Re: settlement $'s

It really doesn't matter how long the case has been going on. If the lien is a public assistance lien there are a lot of requirements that the attorney has to comply with before releasing any funds. Workers' compensation liens are usually negotiated before settlement so they do not usually result in any delay. In some kinds of cases there are medical or health insurance liens and your attorney may be trying to negotiate a settlement of these to get you a bigger recovery.

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Answered on 6/05/07, 10:05 am


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