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Thread: How Do I Find A Lawyer

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    Default How Do I Find A Lawyer

    In response to my other threads concerning my hospital experience, I'm attempting to find a lawyer but it seems impossible. I wasn't physically injured due to medical malpractice, I was emotionally injured by their negligence, allowed to be physically and verbally harrassed by patients when I told the staff multiple times to make it stop and also among other things sketchy medical records and no explanations to me about anything, my medications, why there was false things my record, etc.

    So, what do I fall into legally? It seems as though most medical malpractice lawyers only do things like physical injury and not emotional distress. Is it even worth trying to fight or is it just something that will be he says she says and cause me even more stress. What do you suggest?


    Edited to add: If you honestly believe it isn't worth it, tell me. I don't want any more stress from the whole thing and if you don't think it will pan out to a settlement let me know.

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    Featured Member NatalieFRPhilly's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    I would ask your friends if they know of any reliable lawyers, I always go by word of mouth. My old club had a lawyer that the club used and all the girls used him for their cases, he was a winner. However, you may be uncomfortable having someone from the club knowing your real information. Ask your friends.

    I was just thinking..there are so many strip club review sites, there should be some lawyer review sites so people can see if they would like to consult with a lawyer.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Yes they should. They have legal boards but they are swamped by people who don't even have law degrees spouting off shit.

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    Featured Member snoopy's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Quote Originally Posted by sc0101 View Post
    So, what do I fall into legally? It seems as though most medical malpractice lawyers only do things like physical injury and not emotional distress. Is it even worth trying to fight or is it just something that will be he says she says and cause me even more stress. What do you suggest?
    textbook-wise (imo) you fall under the limbo zone of having been wronged but unfortunately with little to no evidence to show for it. not to say you haven't been wronged but proving it in a court and convincing others of the depth of the wrong is very difficult. emotional duress will be very difficult to prove without extensive records of treatment (i.e. even more money outlayed).

    and even with extensive records available, cases are won/lost in front of a jury (usually) where non-physical wounds will be judged harshly (much greater burden of proof) and the benefit of the doubt is often given to the defendant versus the plaintiff, who has no wounds or scars to show. crappy but it works in reverse btw, i.e. most defending liability attorneys will not chance a disfigurement or obvious injury case before a jury unless the circumstances leading up to the injury are very unusual or obvious fault can be (dis)proven.

    Quote Originally Posted by sc0101 View Post
    Edited to add: If you honestly believe it isn't worth it, tell me. I don't want any more stress from the whole thing and if you don't think it will pan out to a settlement let me know.
    only you know if it isn't "worth" it. sometimes it's not the monetary payout (to be ahead or even just back even) but just to "set things right" that drives a case.

    i've gone ahead with cases (i'm not an attorney btw, i'm speaking from practical experience only) where the monies was nothing but proving the righteousness of our side was the motivating thought. otoh, i've completely settled on cases where we had the other side "dead to rights" but the cost of litigating (even for summary judgement) greatly outweighed the settlement costs.

    imo, for your situation it would cost too much to litigate (and prove) and cause you waaay too much further stress. but i've only read a small snippet of your situation. i'd consult a few more attorneys and discuss with them your case in-depth and gauge their opinions. they might all be distasteful grubby pricks but they can smell (usually) a case to be made or even if there's just money in the water.

    that's not to say you don't have a righteous cause of action even if none of them take the case but unfortunately for people caught in your "zone of limbo", our legal system ain't a justice system.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Oh I totally understand I'm in limbo. I do have witnesses (medical patients in the facility) who would testify they saw what happened and the hospital is wired with cameras but I'm sure the footage can be "thrown" out. But yeah I know battling the medical system is a hard, long, and sometimes not worth it process. Boo!

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    Banned Eric Stoner's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    sc0101- Sorry to bear bad news but no lawyer would take a case such as yours. There's simply not a real "injury" and the cost of bringing a med-mal suit could never be justified. What you CAN do is complain to whoever is in charge of "Quality of Care" at the hospital and to whatever state agency is in charge of licensing and supervising hospitals in your state.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Well a lawyer I spoke to actually said I had a very valid case, it would just take a specialty lawyer to go forth with it.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    ok, then you might want to start looking for attorneys in the area you'll be bringing suit in (if you do). it's an "good ol' boys/girls" network, no matter how stuffy and official they (legal people) want to make it seem otherwise.

    attorneys, judges, investigators, police, experts, etc. these are all people that see each other on a regular (if not daily) basis. they will respect and/or disrespect according to who they trust. it won't win you the case but it will improve your bargaining position.

    i'd literally look around the courthouse area (usually county, assuming your state does it the same way NJ does) or use www.martindale.com or go one-by-one off a phone book under civil liability (that's a small section...not).

    good luck!

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Stoner View Post
    What you CAN do is complain to whoever is in charge of "Quality of Care" at the hospital and to whatever state agency is in charge of licensing and supervising hospitals in your state.
    that's not a bad idea either way you decide.

    if you opt to file suit, building as much of a paper trail as possible definitely helps your case (or bargaining position). sometimes the other side will capitulate and settle if they think you've got more than you really do.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    sc0101- Maybe I'm not getting enough info. If you were SEXUALLY harassed or physically ABUSED then HELL YES ! you've got a case and if the hospital was made aware and did NOTHING then they would be on the hook. If you have NAMES & PHONE NUMBERS of witnesses willing to testify then you may have a winnable case. Go to the best personal injury lawyer in your area. Ask anyone you know who works in the court system; insurance adjustors handling claims in your area; someone you know who brough a lawsuit,went to trial and WON.

    The hospital will fight this tooth and claw. Be prepared for a years long fight.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Quote Originally Posted by sc0101 View Post
    Well a lawyer I spoke to actually said I had a very valid case, it would just take a specialty lawyer to go forth with it.
    Did you ask the lawyer what kind of specialty lawyer would take this case? If he/she knew anyone or anything like that?

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    what's the body for lawyers where you live? we have the law society here, you phone up, tell them the kind of lawyer you need and they'll give you the details of one or two.

    best choice is word of mouth, but failing that... it's pot luck, baby!
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Even physical cases that would be relatively cut and dry have the potential to be LONG and drawn out. Physically and mentally draining. Literally. That said, I'd get referrals from medical malpractice doctors or even a psychiatrist unrelated to the hospital.






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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    I did not see your original thread. I have almost completed my law degree here in Australia. Our legal system is different to yours but if you want to PM me with any particular questions or details or give me the link to your original thread I will see what I can find out.

    Medical malpractice lawyers should also handle cases of emotional distress, it is not essential to have any physical injuries. I can't say much else of use without knowing what happened to you.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    start seeing a therapist so u can have some proof of emotional damage. what happened?? i didnt read ur other posts (can u link me to them) let me know the details and ill try to help u more

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Thanks for posting that link VG. I couldn't remember the details and hadn't had time to look for the thread.

    sc0101, I think you need to find a lawyer and sue everybody involved in the mess. The question is though "how do you find a lawyer?". That really depends on your particular situation. You need to also keep in mind that just because a lawyer is well refferred doesn't mean he/she will be the best for you. You want a good one but also one that you are comfortable with and confident in.

    I would start with asking the lawyer you intially talked to about this and see if he will give you a few names. Then talk to other people who've known for a while. Maybe the mangement at your club - maybe not- depending on your level of comfort with them. Or perhaps a family friend that you know. Even if they don't know a lawyer who specializes in your needed area they may have experience with a particular lawyer or firm that they are comfortable with and trust. That lawyer can be asked to give you a referral to one who can help you. If the person asking for the referral is someone the lawyer has regular or ongoing business with they will put some effort in making sure they refer you to someone competent. Basically its networking, knowing people who know other people who might be able to help you out.

    If all else fails there is the yellow pages. I'm not advocating that but plenty of good lawyesr and firms do put their ads in it. If you go the yellow page route you may want to look for a legal firm that's obviously well established. If they've been in business for decades and have a nice office building, well they're obviously doing something right.

    Finding a lawyer isn't hard. Finding a good one that you are comfortable and confident in can be. Once you get some names then you can make the intial contact. Don't let someone intimidate or push you to sign up with them right away. A good lawyer will be happy to answer your questions about their experience in this area etc.

    Good luck.

  18. #18
    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Really isn't worth it.

    PM me if you want to know the reasons, at least from my viewpoint, and if you still want to go forward, I might be able to help with someone in your area. But it'll be hard to find someone to take on an expensive, high-risk case unless there's actual provable physical damages involved. Still, the real malpractice guys (not the ones you see on TV, usually) can be risky rollers. Maybe. Who knows.

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    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Quote Originally Posted by jaizaine View Post
    I did not see your original thread. I have almost completed my law degree here in Australia. Our legal system is different to yours but if you want to PM me with any particular questions or details or give me the link to your original thread I will see what I can find out.

    Medical malpractice lawyers should also handle cases of emotional distress, it is not essential to have any physical injuries. I can't say much else of use without knowing what happened to you.
    I should have finished with mine this year but I've been a slacker (deferrals, part time etc) so it'll take me another couple of years.

    I sent you a PM re uni, by the way. I didn't realise we had identical courses of study in common! It'd be freaky if we were at the same university.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    ^^^ i figured you out when you mentioned superclinics!! heh.
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    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Quote Originally Posted by Nautilus View Post
    ^^^ i figured you out when you mentioned superclinics!! heh.

    So, you're yet another Australian law student? It seems we're becoming ubiquitous here.

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    no, no, i'm done. thank god... couldn't have taken much more.

    still not in practice... so to the supreme court and such.... (for now)

    oh and... to the admissions board.

    *hopes the CJ isn't a secret platinum supporter of SW*
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    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    Quote Originally Posted by Nautilus View Post
    no, no, i'm done. thank god... couldn't have taken much more.

    still not in practice... so to the supreme court and such.... (for now)

    oh and... to the admissions board.

    *hopes the CJ isn't a secret platinum supporter of SW*
    Which state are you in?

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    Default Re: How Do I Find A Lawyer

    queensland
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