In 2002 our firm was retained by a barely 18 year old plaintiff to recover damages as a result of a very serious motor vehicle accident. She was an innocent passenger in a vehicle involved in a head-on collision and subsequent rollover. Her injuries included multiple fractures to her lumbar spine. Unfortunately she came from a morbidly dysfunctional family and members of our firm were called upon frequently to “babysit “this client in many ways, until in 2004 the case was successfully mediated. The terms of the settlement included, of course, a structure so that our client would receive regular monthly payments. This was of utmost importance in this particular case, since not only certain family members, but also more than one boyfriend were making devious plans to relieve our young and gullible client from her money.
All went well for a short while until the cheques issued by the insurance company and made payable to our client started to go missing from our client’s mailbox on a monthly basis. Of course, our client could not survive financially without her monthly payments. We were called upon to assist her with preparation of affidavits, obtaining replacement cheques, and having the cheques forwarded to our office for pickup by our client.
It is now 2009, funds still come to our office monthly for pickup by the client. Almost 7 years post accident, and more than four years since settlement we are still providing this service to our client.
As is the case with most personal injury lawyers, payment for our services stopped when we settled the case. We charged our client an agreed upon contingency fee, and since 2004, have never charged our client another cent for fees.
From time to time clients require something more from their lawyer than just settling their case. In those relatively rare circumstances we have in the past, and will continue in the future, to provide extra time and services without compensation to improve their life or keep helping them on their road to recovery.
Harv Lewin is a lawyer at Neinstein & Associates and has been practicing law for over 38 years.