Floridian residents who seek out an attorney do so because they need strong, reliable, and stable legal support. Unfortunately, that isn't always what you get. We at St. Denis & Davey, P.A., work hard to help people like you, who have become victims of legal malpractice or negligent attorneys.
What does the term "proximate cause" mean?
Floridian residents turn to attorneys at some of the potentially worst moments of their lives, when they need the legal help to weather whatever storm they are going through. Because of this, it can feel like a huge betrayal if your legal aid does not live up to your expectations. If you feel like you lost your case because of poor representation, then continue reading to learn more about what you can do.
Tips on finding an attorney when you need one
People in Florida who find themselves in need of legal advise or expertise may not always know where to start. An online search for a lawyer often returns a myriad of results and it can be difficult to know which person or firm may be the best choice for a particular situation. Just as with selecting a physician, it is important to find a lawyer who is trustworthy and who will act in the best interest of the client at all times.
When can an attorney claim to be a professional specialist?
A great deal of respect and authority is automatically assigned to one identified as a lawyer. You likely assume that such an individual has a vast knowledge of all legal matters pertaining to the particular branch of law that they claim to specialize in. Yet there are legal aspects of certain fields that even a lawyer working in that field may not be familiar with. These may be accepted industry standards or regulatory compliance issues that only one practicing in such field would know. For this reason, you often see attorneys who also hold additional professional licenses. For example, a lawyer practicing real estate law may also obtain a realtor's license, while an attorney specializing in tax law may also become a certified public accountant.
Understanding the obligation to be truthful
When Florida residents work with attorneys, the expectation is that any communication that occurs between the two sides is protected by attorney-client privilege. Most assume that attorney-client privilege means that an attorney is barred from saying anything that a client tells them. That, however, is not the case. There are indeed exceptions to this rule, as attorneys as tasked with maintaining their professional integrity at all times.
Client seeks damages after unprofessional conduct
People in Florida may not always understand what types of situations may contribute to or be considered potential acts of malpractice on the part of an attorney. Some examples might be relatively clear such as if a lawyer failed to file documents per a court-order deadline or if an attorney agreed to represent two clients on opposing sides of the same case. There may, however, be other situations that are less obvious.
