NJSBA Family Law Section

Hi all - I have Burlington County client whose divorce case was in Burlington County family court.  My office is and always has been in Camden County.  I never sent a fee arb to a non-paying client before, but this one owes me about $8000.00 and I know she has a good job, savings, and investments.  Question:  Do I send letter advising her of District Ethics Secretary's address and number in Camden County or Burlington County?  Obviously, for my own convenience I would prefer Camden County. Does it matter which county?

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Carol A. Weil Esq.
Laurel Springs NJ
(856)352-0050
Atty ID 024411993

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Clearly Camden.

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Curtis Romanowski Esq.
Senior Attorney - Proprietor
Brielle NJ
(732)603-8585

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Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 10:34
From: Carol Weil
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb

Hi all - I have Burlington County client whose divorce case was in Burlington County family court.  My office is and always has been in Camden County.  I never sent a fee arb to a non-paying client before, but this one owes me about $8000.00 and I know she has a good job, savings, and investments.  Question:  Do I send letter advising her of District Ethics Secretary's address and number in Camden County or Burlington County?  Obviously, for my own convenience I would prefer Camden County. Does it matter which county?

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Carol A. Weil Esq.
Laurel Springs NJ
(856)352-0050
Atty ID 024411993

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Send by certified and regular mail. Cite the Notice Rule in your letter, R. 1:20A-6, I believe.

DEFINITELY Camden. Goes in your office Vicinage, same as Ethics!!

I have been thru too many of these over the years. Happy to talk you through it offline.

Note: phony malpractice claims/ethics charges are often triggered by Fee Arb notices/collection efforts. Make sure it is worth pursuing before you pull the trigger.

A collection of $80,000? I am sure I would pursue it (and I have). $8,000? I am sure I would not.

Hanan
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Hanan Isaacs Esq.
Kingston NJ
(609)683-7400

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Original Message:
Sent: 9/14/2013 10:34:04 AM
From: [email protected]
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb

Hi all - I have Burlington County client whose divorce case was in Burlington County family court.  My office is and always has been in Camden County.  I never sent a fee arb to a non-paying client before, but this one owes me about $8000.00 and I know she has a good job, savings, and investments.  Question:  Do I send letter advising her of District Ethics Secretary's address and number in Camden County or Burlington County?  Obviously, for my own convenience I would prefer Camden County. Does it matter which county? ------------------------------------------- Carol A. Weil Esq. Laurel Springs NJ (856)352-0050 Atty ID 024411993 -------------------------------------------

Thank you...I have had another friend suggest that I not pursue this.  It makes me so angry because I worked very hard for this difficult client in her contentious divorce and I know she could easily pay me.  She is bitter (although she did settle, finally, in mediation) and angry at the ex (though he paid his counsel!).  Can I ethically continue to send her invoices every month if I do not pursue collection?


 Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 13:47
From: Hanan Isaacs
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb


Send by certified and regular mail. Cite the Notice Rule in your letter, R. 1:20A-6, I believe.

DEFINITELY Camden. Goes in your office Vicinage, same as Ethics!!

I have been thru too many of these over the years. Happy to talk you through it offline.

Note: phony malpractice claims/ethics charges are often triggered by Fee Arb notices/collection efforts. Make sure it is worth pursuing before you pull the trigger.

A collection of $80,000? I am sure I would pursue it (and I have). $8,000? I am sure I would not.

Hanan
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Hanan Isaacs Esq.
Kingston NJ
(609)683-7400

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Send away. No worries. Maybe she'll have a life-altering experience or a weak moment of good conscience and actually pay you.

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Curtis Romanowski Esq.
Senior Attorney - Proprietor
Brielle NJ
(732)603-8585 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (732)603-8585 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 14:14
From: Carol Weil
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb


Thank you...I have had another friend suggest that I not pursue this.  It makes me so angry because I worked very hard for this difficult client in her contentious divorce and I know she could easily pay me.  She is bitter (although she did settle, finally, in mediation) and angry at the ex (though he paid his counsel!).  Can I ethically continue to send her invoices every month if I do not pursue collection?


 Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 13:47
From: Hanan Isaacs
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb


Send by certified and regular mail. Cite the Notice Rule in your letter, R. 1:20A-6, I believe.

DEFINITELY Camden. Goes in your office Vicinage, same as Ethics!!

I have been thru too many of these over the years. Happy to talk you through it offline.

Note: phony malpractice claims/ethics charges are often triggered by Fee Arb notices/collection efforts. Make sure it is worth pursuing before you pull the trigger.

A collection of $80,000? I am sure I would pursue it (and I have). $8,000? I am sure I would not.

Hanan
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Hanan Isaacs Esq.
Kingston NJ
(609)683-7400

-------------------------------------------

Call

Send SMS

Add to Skype

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Let me share a technique I have used in your precise circumstances:

You worked hard and did a good job.

Your ungrateful sphincter muscle of a client refuses to pay your reasonable fee.

The bill is "too small to risk" (as contrasted with "too big to fail").

Here is what I do:

I call the client; have a discussion about my disappointment that things have not worked out well; have the client CONFIRM they will not pay me a dime; then tell them this:

"I will agree to cancel my bill to you, on one express condition: that you agree never to call me again to assist you with a legal probkem, for the rest of your life."

I always end up feeling better after that conversation and can let go of the outrage.

P.S. One of these crazies wrote me a confirming note saying: "Do not worry. I will never darken your door again."

She got it completely.

Hanan
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Hanan Isaacs Esq.
Kingston NJ
(609)683-7400

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Original Message:
Sent: 9/14/2013 2:18:35 PM
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE:Correct Region For fee Arb

Send away. No worries. Maybe she'll have a life-altering experience or a weak moment of good conscience and actually pay you. ------------------------------------------- Curtis Romanowski Esq. Senior Attorney - Proprietor Brielle NJ (732)603-8585 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (732)603-8585 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 09-14-2013 14:14 From: Carol Weil Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb Thank you...I have had another friend suggest that I not pursue this.  It makes me so angry because I worked very hard for this difficult client in her contentious divorce and I know she could easily pay me.  She is bitter (although she did settle, finally, in mediation) and angry at the ex (though he paid his counsel!).  Can I ethically continue to send her invoices every month if I do not pursue collection?  Message: Sent: 09-14-2013 13:47 From: Hanan Isaacs Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb Send by certified and regular mail. Cite the Notice Rule in your letter, R. 1:20A-6, I believe. DEFINITELY Camden. Goes in your office Vicinage, same as Ethics!! I have been thru too many of these over the years. Happy to talk you through it offline. Note: phony malpractice claims/ethics charges are often triggered by Fee Arb notices/collection efforts. Make sure it is worth pursuing before you pull the trigger. A collection of $80,000? I am sure I would pursue it (and I have). $8,000? I am sure I would not. Hanan ------------------------------------------- Hanan Isaacs Esq. Kingston NJ (609)683-7400 -------------------------------------------

Call

Send SMS

Add to Skype

You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

The bill is "too small to risk" (as contrasted with "too big to fail").

I had a general rule - under $1,000, I'm generally not going to sue.

My studious admin just went through our billing history for the past 10 years.

Add up all the uncollected billings under $1500.

Total?  $89,365.


No further comment.... except that I'm tempted to print out the list, with names, and show it to any future client who gripes about lawyers insisting on retainers.



David Perry Davis, Esq.
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The Law Office of David Perry Davis
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112 West Franklin Avenue
Pennington, NJ 08534
Voice: 609-737-2222
Fax:    609-737-3222

Hannon... "phony malpractice claims/ethics charges." Absurd that you would even suggest that anyone would think to do this when faced with a legitimate claim for fees duly earned! (lol) 

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Curtis Romanowski Esq.
Senior Attorney - Proprietor
Brielle NJ
(732)603-8585

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Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 13:47
From: Hanan Isaacs
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb


Send by certified and regular mail. Cite the Notice Rule in your letter, R. 1:20A-6, I believe.

DEFINITELY Camden. Goes in your office Vicinage, same as Ethics!!

I have been thru too many of these over the years. Happy to talk you through it offline.

Note: phony malpractice claims/ethics charges are often triggered by Fee Arb notices/collection efforts. Make sure it is worth pursuing before you pull the trigger.

A collection of $80,000? I am sure I would pursue it (and I have). $8,000? I am sure I would not.

Hanan
-------------------------------------------
Hanan Isaacs Esq.
Kingston NJ
(609)683-7400

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Thanks everyone, and special thanks to Lisa, who telephoned. I'll let you all know how it works out.  Carol

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Carol A. Weil Esq.
Laurel Springs NJ
(856)352-0050
Atty ID 024411993

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Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 14:15
From: Curtis Romanowski
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb

Hannon... "phony malpractice claims/ethics charges." Absurd that you would even suggest that anyone would think to do this when faced with a legitimate claim for fees duly earned! (lol) 

-------------------------------------------
Curtis Romanowski Esq.
Senior Attorney - Proprietor
Brielle NJ
(732)603-8585

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2013 13:47
From: Hanan Isaacs
Subject: Correct Region For fee Arb


Send by certified and regular mail. Cite the Notice Rule in your letter, R. 1:20A-6, I believe.

DEFINITELY Camden. Goes in your office Vicinage, same as Ethics!!

I have been thru too many of these over the years. Happy to talk you through it offline.

Note: phony malpractice claims/ethics charges are often triggered by Fee Arb notices/collection efforts. Make sure it is worth pursuing before you pull the trigger.

A collection of $80,000? I am sure I would pursue it (and I have). $8,000? I am sure I would not.

Hanan
-------------------------------------------
Hanan Isaacs Esq.
Kingston NJ
(609)683-7400

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