Hiring and Firing Multiple Lawyers will Negatively Impact Your Case

Several times a month, I receive a phone call from a currently represented claimant who visited my web site and wants me to take over representation of his case.

While I appreciate the opportunity to represent a deserving client, I always discourage a represented claimant from changing lawyers:

1.  first, I do not try to steal another lawyer’s client. Period. I would not want to hire a lawyer who does not respect other lawyers and their client relationships, and neither should you.

2. second, I know that in every case there will be frustrating delays that have nothing to do with a lawyer’s actions. Insurance companies will cut off benefits illegally or refuse to authorize medical care for no reason other than to try to force a claimant into a lowball settlement.

3. third, every lawyer has his or her own style. There are many fine workers’ compensation lawyers in Atlanta and if you are already represented, I’ll tell you to schedule a meeting with your lawyer to work out any misunderstandings. Generally I will only consider taking on case for a previously represented client if the client has already formally terminated the previous lawyer after making a good faith effort to resolve any differences.

4. fourth, I can tell you from my days as an insurance defense lawyer that insurance companies assign less value to cases where a claimant has used two or more lawyers. With limited exceptions, lawyers don’t withdraw from cases unless

• there is damaging medical evidence
• the client is unreasonable and uncooperative
• there is some major problem with the case

5. fifth, it can be difficult to find a good lawyer to take over a case if the previous lawyer has put a lot of time and effort into the case. The State Board allows lawyers to submit a “lien” on a case for the time he or she has put in. If lawyer #1 has worked on a file for 2 years, he will have a viable claim for most of the attorney’s fees, so most of the more experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in town will not be interested in such a case.

–Jodi

P.S. I hope you find this Survival Kit valuable but I want to emphasize that you should not consider anything in this Kit or on this website as legal advice.  I can only offer legal advice to clients who have hired me by signing a written retainer agreement. So if you would like to learn more about Georgia workers’ compensation law impacts you based on the facts of your case, please call me today.  Thanks!