August 31, 2010, 2:13 am
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 – after I spent $13,000.00 he said, “You don’t have a case”. Second lawyer – 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 – 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