Chicago Attorney’s Firm Won’t Pay Me
I did language interpreting during a deposition here in California for an attorney that flew here from a sizeable firm in Chicago. For five months, they have been ignoring my invoices, email and phone calls.
What can I do to get paid?
Are all Chicago attorneys this low?
You would think that a big firm in Chicago would pay their bills. Any help is appreciated.
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Comments
compile your emails or letters where the attorney asked for your services, and your response accepting the assignment, along with your invoice and send it to the lawyer and cc: the firm’s most senior partner and the state’s bar association. send certified mail return receipt requested. tell them that if you don’t get paid, you will put the firm and the lawyer’s name out there. no lawyer wants to be associated with that kind of b.s.
Wow. If they had ignored your invoice for THAT long, I would send them a final invoice by certified letter and by the regular mail demanding a pay within 30 days and threatening to take the matter to court if they don’t pay. If they still don’t pay, do take them to court of YOUR jurisdiction. If your invoice is less than $5,000 take them to a small claims court.
I had a friend who was given a $300.00 hot check by an attorney and the attorney wouldn’t pay him.. Well one morning he went down to the attorneys office…asked to see him and was told he wasn’t in.. My friend told the receptionist thank you and then politely told her ,,”Ill just wait until he returns”. Well my friend sat down and every time a client came in he would strike up a conversation with them… and then tell them why he was there and show them the hot check….. after the receptionist observed this happen 2-3 times.. she told my friend the attorney was in and he could go see him.. The frustrated attorney had $300.00 cash waiting for him.. true story.
Ask your Office Manager/Administrator, if he/she can contact the Office Manger, of the other firm, on your behalf, about the other firm paying paying you.
Good Luck.
Attorney discipline in IL is handled not by the State Bar but by a department of the Supreme Court of Illinois.
Here… is a link to their website with info on how to file a complaint.
Richard
That sucks.
1. Make sure they are still around and haven’t lost the farm on another case.
2. Don’t talk to the receptionist. Talk to accounts payable. It could be an oversight.
3. Hang in there…you are gonna get paid.
Good Luck,
Judobigdog