Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

Patient's Attorney refuses to pay on Lien

I am a psychologist and provided services under contract for a patient after she was in an automobile accident. I filed a lien with her attorney- she signed it, he did not. My final bill is $7400 of which about $2000 is finance charge (1.5%/mo). I offered to reduce my bill to $5000 and the attorney refused to pay. He offered $4200. The patient has received her awards from the settlement, now her attorney is refusing to pay my bill - offering me $3150 to settle. What should I do?


Asked on 6/22/07, 5:41 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Benjamin Berger Berger-Harrison, A Professional Corporation

Re: Patient's Attorney refuses to pay on Lien

Without knowing much about your situation or the case . . . write to the attorney and advise him plainly that you'll not accept less than $5,000 and wait to see what he does. He'll likely send $5k.

However, if the settlement was fairly low, you might consider a further reduction. We ask for reductions from doctors who have liens, but we do that BEFORE we settle the case and usually only when the proposed recovery is unexpectedly small.

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Answered on 6/22/07, 5:47 pm
Larry Rothman Larry Rothman & Associates

Re: Patient's Attorney refuses to pay on Lien

You have a claim against the attorney. You can go to small claims court if you do not want to pay an attorney to assist you. Some attorney's take cases such as this on a contingency.

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Answered on 6/22/07, 5:49 pm
Jonathan Stein Law Offices of Jonathan G. Stein

Re: Patient's Attorney refuses to pay on Lien

You should send a letter to the attorney demanding payment in full. See what response you get. You may need to sue the patient and the attorney in small claims court for the full $5,000.

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Answered on 6/22/07, 5:57 pm


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