Attorney Attempting To Overcharge

[SAW]

I had hired an attorney without a retainer agreement. The attorney had an hourly rate in which he charges.

He was to provide us with advice on how to proceed with an legal issue. He kept sending emails stating the case was more serious than it was and kept trying to waste time so that the case would go to litagation in which he would then want a retainer and charge more money.

When we saw what he was trying to do, we dismissed him from the case. Now he sent us an invoice with an excessive amount which is very questionable. His invoice is not even itemized.

What kind of recourse do we have?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

State is DC/MD

[las365]

First, ask for an itemized invoice. Did you pay him anything at all?

[SAW]

First, ask for an itemized invoice. Did you pay him anything at all?

When we first hired him he gave us a bill of $177.00 in which we paid. Now he is sending us a bill for $964.00 in which we have not paid as the amount is disputable. Thank you so much for your reply.

[SAW]

We paid his first bill of $177.00 in November. He was dismissed on December 15, 2007 and now he is giving us a bill of $977.38 which is disputable as we never went to court or anything.

[Almosthome]

Yes - ask for the itemized statement. Let's say he does and everything on it checks out - meaning he genuinely performed each service reflected in the bill - I guess technically you could dispute that since you did not have a written retainer (check MD/DC disciplinary rules) but you could also decide that he earned this service and pay him. You could also dispute the items line-by-line so to speak and tell him what you will pay (if anything) and what you will not and why. Another tack simply is to do nothing and see what he does first, then respond.