Please advise me how to get my refund from a mean lawyer. Your help is very valuable. Thank you very much.?

Question

Dear All, I got my H1-B approved visa from USCIS this summer and applied refund for Premium Process fee. The refund check was issued and sent to my lawyer 3 weeks ago. Even though my visa case was closed and I made the whole payment to my lawyer few months ago, my lawyer suddenly emailed me a expense statement 2 weeks ago and said that I have to make the rest payment in order to get the refund. Is there any way I can deal with this mean lawyer? Thank you very much for your sharing.

Answer 1

Unfortunatly, thats the reality of lawyers.  They can basically charge and do whatever they want.  Even if you take him to court, he will show the judge that you still owe money for his time being spent somehow.  

You should go to his office with a copy of all your statements and reciepts that you have and request that check. If he doesnt give it to you, file a complaint with the ARDC.com and try going to the local courthouse to file a complaint against him.  Be cautious though, if the judge feels that your lawsuit agains the attorney is frivolous (which attorneys have a way of making it seem) then the attorney will probably go after you for THOSE new attorney fees.  

Good luck. Its a shame that this is not the minorty.

Answer 2

Sorry...but every time a lawyer touches a peice of paper, or performs any action on your behalf, (s)he is entitled to bill you for time.

However, you've been shafted by an idiot more interested in lining his pocket than helping you. Contact the USCIS personally, quote your case number and ask that they issue you a new cheque, and the first one was never received. Request that they send the cheque to the address registered for you, and not the law office, as you have dismissed the lawyer/firm in question for services completed satisfactorily. If they want details, give them to them, just don't sound like you're whining, or you'll loose credibility.

If that doesn't work, contact the local bar association and speak to the ethics person(?)

Answer 3

Get another civil lawyer to go after that lawyer.  If you have a case he/she will take your case.  If not, you'll just have to pay the first bloodsucker.

Answer 4

File a complaint against the lawyer to the Supreme Court so that he will be ordered by the court to give you your refund.