Legal Question in Legal Malpractice in New York
Settlement agreements
I have been offered a fee to settle my case against the defendant. I was unaware that a settlement agreement had to be signed by me. When I read the settlement agreement, I discovered that the terms of the agreement favored the defendant. When I refused to sign it, I was informed that the agreement was binding because I gave my social security number when I was asked. Is there a standard general agreement or can it contain terms that both parties can agree to?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Settlement agreements
You've just learned one of the many hazards of attempting to handle a case pro se.
There is no "standard" agreement of settlement. Nor is there anything in law or elsewhere that says giving a social security number makes an agreement binding.