Well, hello everyone! First, T2 you will be glad to know that I tried the places you suggested. Unfortunately, I live in the wrong county for them to help me. I did look up some other places that might help and found a group called CAAP. They are for people who are having trouble getting their lawyers to be responsive, in my case it was my lawyer who said I wasn't being responsive. They told me to write a letter to take with me to court spelling out the ways that I can be reached when they need me other than my cell. Show it to the judge and them. Ask questions like, since I paid for my D as a flat fee, will I be getting a refund? So, I was ready for my court date.
Funny thing that I noticed right away was that the paperwork listed my lawyer as a woman that works for him. As far as I knew she was a legal asst. She was the one that showed up in court. The judge asked her why they were dropping me and she said that it was impossible to "communicate" with me. He asked what that meant. She said since 11/14 they haven't been able to reach me (a lie as I spoke to them on 11/14). I told the judge that the only way they tried to reach me was by cell, which wasn't working and that my last talk they said that the meeting they wanted to have wouldn't be until at least the first week in December so I wasn't expecting a call. The judge asked about how I paid and when I told him that I paid a flat fee of $2500 he asked her if I would get a refund! She stuttered and said she would have to "ask my boss". In the end the judge chastised both me and her saying I need to respond better and that he is worried that they are just going to find another way to drop me since they don't like working with me. Her for not trying more than my cell. He said he wasn't going to dismiss the petition but would live it open saying that they need to work with me and for me to try and be more available.
After I spoke with the woman who is supposed to be my lawyer and I told her that I HAD to concentrate on getting a new job as I had NO money and was struggling. I told her I had found a new job but that I needed to pass an examine before I could start and that was more important and that I was still trying to make money at my present job. She told me that a big reason that her boss was upset was because my W's firm has been calling and bugging them 2 times a day! Seems that W is in a big hurry to get this done and over with and in turn they have been on them. Last that I heard, W's lawyer wanted us to go to mediation or appear before a judge and let him decide sans lawyers. To me this is them looking for a way to avoid court and a "real" trial. Seems FIL is wanting to save his money. Of course, my lawyer, having no way to make MORE money, also doesn't want to go to trial! I should have known that my W was behind all this in some way as she as asked me two times about my lawyer since she told me that her lawyer told her my lawyer was dropping me. She should be hoping that I don't lose my lawyer as that would make it more likely that it takes longer!
My only worry now is that my lawyer is going to just want to give up everything to get it over with. He has once or twice before, after getting something from my W's lawyer seemed to think they were making sense...that is until I gave him more info (like the student loans and my cashing in my retirement). I think, as a young lawyer, he isn't as "sure" of himself and listens to what an older, seasoned, lawyer like my W's says. I don't like that but I also don't have money for another one (at least not yet). I'm going to look into what I can do if he says to take something I don't think is fair, just in case. Of course I need to find time and that isn't something I have right now. Well, Merry Christmas from MLC land, I think W wants this over with in time for the New Year and she is and FIL are pushing to get that done.
