Legal Question in Legal Ethics in New York

Re: settlement distribution

Mishandling client funds and drug abuse are two of the most common reasons for attorneys to lose their license. So you should file a complaint with the bar association for your state, but only if you are really looking at all the facts. If you're not certain, then give the law firm a short deadline to give you a written explanation for why you have not received your money. If they can't come up with a good one, then you will still be able to claim the interest from when you should have reasonably been paid and possibly any damages resulting from the delay. Assert your right to know what is going on, but make sure you're right first or you will just waste everyone's time and money.