Please help. I don’t know what to do.?

Hi. I am living in Virginia. Year 2006 I hired an attorney (Mr. Kim) to file a lawsuit against a financial institution but he hasn’t filed my case yet. He is a nice guy but lazy…I think...

or he has had no intention to fight with such a big company.

Year 2007, I tried different lawyers because of those reasons. First lawyer â€" after I spent $13,000.00 he said, “You don’t have a case”. Second lawyer â€" after I spent $6,000.00 He said, “You have a case but you going to need more than $100k to file a lawsuit. Just give up”. I went back to Mr. Kim. In April 2009 Mr. Kim and I had a meeting. He told me that because of statute of limitation (Virginia has 2 years of statute of limitation for fraud); we should file a lawsuit in North Carolina.-That financial institution is chartered in NC- (and NC has 3 years SoL). Mr. Kim suggested me to contact with NC lawyer because Mr. Kim doesn’t have a license in NC. I called NC lawyer referral service and I contacted with NC lawyer (Tom). After 1 hour conversation he told me that I have a strong and interesting case and he asked me to send all the information by mail. I sent it next day. Seven days after he received the documents, we (Mr. Kim, Tom, and I) had a telephone conference.

They (Mr. Kim and Tom) agreed that I have a case but we should file a lawsuit in Virginia for some reason. They told me that we are safe from statute of limitation because of discovery rule. I had no argument because lawyers told me that it will be o.k. (*Back to the beginning â€" Mr. Kim and me). Problem is Tom called me and told me that I owe him $4,000.00 for his effort and he will send me an invoice soon. Nothing is free. I know what it is and I should pay if I owe someone. But $4,000.00 for 3 hours phone conversation? I was in Virginia and he worked in NC. I have no idea what he has done. Even I don’t know his hourly rate and we didn’t have any written agreement. Another crooked lawyer? I don’t know...

Q#1: Do you see any problems here? Any suggestions? Should I call NC Bar Association?

Q#2: I am about to give up this unless there is a miracle that I hope. I borrowed money from my family and friend to support my lawyers. After I spent $26,000.00(including Mr. Kim) and potential $4,000.00 I am back to the beginning and I have nothing left. I am so desperate.

I don’t know that I could afford Mr. Kim and I have no idea about his intention. He always tells me, “I will file it soon”.

I will tell you about my intention. I want to fight by myself. ”Pro-se”. I want to represent myself. But I need someone to guide me to legal system. People told me that I will lose my case if I fight without a lawyer. I know that. Even I am not an American and English is not my first language- as you can see- .But I think I have to try something before I give up. I heard about Legal Aid in Virginia. I will try but I doubt that they could help me or not.

Please help ... If you have any suggestions or anyone who could help, please let me know.

Thank you so much.

sungryalahn@yahoo.com

In regards to lawyer in NC he isn't charging you $4,000.00 for a 3 hour call he is charging you for that and all research and reading of your papers you sent him. Lawyers charge for the time it takes them to do anything related to your case. I wouldnt pay anything until you looked at itemized bill to see what he did. You could also call the Bar association if you wanted to and the worst that could happen is that they tell you the lawyer(s) did everything right. I hate to say it but its hard to fight big companies but i think (you need to ask lawyer first) that if you win you can sue for your court costs. I hope this helps atleast a little

How much money were you hoping to get from suing this financial institution? It sounds like you have paid way too much money already. The lawyers have taken advantage of you.

It is kind of hard to answer that with not knowing what the lawsuit is about, and I really with I was your lawyer forking over money like that.

dori