Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Georgia

I was involved in a lawsuit several years ago and lost. When talking to the lawyer I hired I stated that if my cost would exceed 6000 I could not afford to move forward. The lawyers took the case and a week before the trial they could not locate a signed copy of the contract (not sure if I ever signed one before this time as I had a head injury). The expenses were 28,000+. In duress I signed the contract. We lost the trial based on I had signed a waiver 3 years prior to the accident (sporting accident). My question is am I libel for all the expenses incurred before I signed the contract (about 26,000) or only the expenses incurred after i signed the contract? I am frustrated as I would not have agreed to this knowing I would owe $28,000 + as I was unemployed at the time. I tied to settle with the lawyers 6,000 but they said this was unacceptable. I have made small payments over the past several years amounting to around 3500 so far but would like to close this situation as it is a constant reminder of a painful time in my life.

Please help with some guidance on how to move forward.


Asked on 9/09/12, 7:20 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

First of all, in posting your question under legal ethics, almost no one in areas of law that actually handle these matters will see your post. At this point you're dealing with an unpaid debt. You owe whatever the final court orders says you owe and you can't just pay some smaller amount and be done. Usually your options are (1) pay the whole judgment, (2) if they will take it, make a far more substantial offer, which they don't have to accept, or (3) if the debt is dischargeable, and you qualify, file bankruptcy. (Unless someone pointed a gun at you, there is no such thing as signing a contract under duress).

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Answered on 9/09/12, 7:34 am


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