Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Texas

File complaint or sue a lawyer in TX

I have obtained a lawyer to handle a legal issue in Houston TX. After cashed the retainer check, the lawyer returned only two emails and then disappeared. My emails and phone calls went unanswered. It has been a month and half since I last heard from her. I would like to know what I can do about it since I am from another state.

Thanks for your advice!


Asked on 3/30/07, 6:17 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

John Gibson John W. Gibson, Esquire

Re: File complaint or sue a lawyer in TX

A month and a half is not really a long time in legal proceedings. Most likely she deposited your check into an escrow account and commenced work. If she's working in a law firm and the secretaries are taking your calls and she's simply not returning them, she may be in a protracted trial and unable to turn over your case to anyone else. If she's a sole practitioner and your calls are going to her answering machine, then at least you know she is still at the same telephone number.

Also a lot depends on the type of case and what she is being paid to do. If you paid her for a divorce proceeding, she may have drafted and served the Complaint and is simply waiting for a response before she contacts you so she has some news to give you.

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Answered on 3/31/07, 12:24 pm
Johm Smith tom's

Re: File complaint or sue a lawyer in TX

Depending on what she's doing for you, this may be normal and your retainer may still in her client account, but you sound convinced that it isn't. You should give her notice that you are contemplating filing a complaint with the TX bar if you don't hear back from her. Emergencies do arise for everyone, including lawyers; so give her the benefit of the doubt. But send the notice by email and certified mail and you can always contact the bar and ask for information about filing complaints.

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Answered on 3/30/07, 6:57 pm


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