Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Illinois

Hello, I am an American citizen in Poland. I came here for a semester of school and quickly saw how terrible the lifestyle is compared to living in America. However during my one semester studying abroad I got in a vehicular accident and admitted guilt to negligent vehicular manslaughter. I agreed to all fines and have no jail time waiting or facing me. However they did take my american passport and forbid me from leaving the country while this is processed thru the court system. I asked my lawyer how long this would take and he informed me that it would take many months and possibly even well over a year. This would cripple me in every way as I have school starting very soon in America and I also have a job waiting for me. This perplexes me as I have already signed everything neccesary and am no longer physically needed for any such process here and if by some chance my presence will be required it will not be for a year or more and yet I am not allowed to leave the country to go to school and work. I am living with some relatives as my semester just finished up and have no job here, which is impossible to find in the first place, basically sitting idly while waiting for the process to finish. They tell me I am a flight risk if I get my passport back but that is just absured, i dont plan on running anywhere just going home, I will be registered at a college and have a steady job. I have no plans on being anywhere but their and if my presence becomes neccessary in over a year will find not trouble in coming back very shortly.

Now I ask if there is anyway to set up some sort of program or contract for me to be allowed to go home and continue my life. As I live very near a major city and a Polish embassy in America i would have no problem "checking in" to the Polish embassy on a regular basis to prove that I am not trying to run from this process, which in itself is a ludicrous thought as I have school, and a job, friends and family, and have grown up and lived in my home area for over 18 years and have had ZERO, none, legal troubles during all 18 years of my legal US residency. My criminal record is completely clean and basically non existent, and my academic ratings are all very high as I have always pushed myself and hence why I decided to even study abroad in the first place.

Also is their anyway to expedite court proceedeings up? As Poland is notorious for having long long court procedures.


Asked on 5/24/10, 12:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Elfreda Dockery Law Office of Elfreda Dockery

you should speak to someone at the american embassy re: your passport!

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Answered on 5/26/10, 8:34 am


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