Any Lawyers Flying?

[wil3ur]

So... I'm not gonna go too in depth, but I had a judgement against me to which an agreement was signed, now law office is claiming 10% interest on top of signed agreement.  I don't have any idea on where to even start w/ this BS, and could use an opinion of someone who has 5 minutes to listen on what to do and how to proceed.

I don't expect any lawyer types to fly here, or offer up help freely, but just throwing stones out there.  You wouldn't believe the crap that you get from those "free legal advice" sites.

Not looking for representation, just some honest advice.  Thanks to any who care.

[Maverick]

Not a lawyer but there is some advice anyhow. You need to get your own lawyer and talk it over with him to determine if you are liable for the interest. Trying to find legal advice on the open net will go no where. You need to have a sit down and pay for the professional advice you need about your situation. No joke, no flame just plain talking. If you try to handle a lawyer on your own you will lose more.

[cattb]

No Joke, look into the yellow pages. From my experience there are lawyers that will give you a free consultation. If its only a few minutes a attorney might give you some advice over the phone, free.

[vonKrimm]

Unless the agreed order contains language wherein the attorney(s) are entitled to "attorneys fees" or "interest in addition to judgment", they are SOL. However, I suggest you obtain counsel within the jurisdiction of your case.  It most likely will not be free, but the cost for a consultation should be reasonable.  You could, foolish if you do, go pro se on the matter.

[AKH]

That's three instances of good counsel.  Four if you add me.

Read your agreement again, it's probably in there somewhere.  If so, you are going to have a hard time disputing the interest charge, since you did agree to it.

See a lawyer.  You should be able to get an initial consultation free of charge.

[dedalos]

So... I'm not gonna go too in depth, but I had a judgement against me to which an agreement was signed, now law office is claiming 10% interest on top of signed agreement.  I don't have any idea on where to even start w/ this BS, and could use an opinion of someone who has 5 minutes to listen on what to do and how to proceed.

I don't expect any lawyer types to fly here, or offer up help freely, but just throwing stones out there.  You wouldn't believe the crap that you get from those "free legal advice" sites.

Not looking for representation, just some honest advice.  Thanks to any who care.

So, here is how it works.  They probably calculated that it would cost you about the same in legal fees, time and a lawyer as if you paid them the 10%.  Therefore, you cannot win.  It is only a question of who is getting your money.

[Shamus]

Judgment interest rates are normally set by the court where the judgment was obtained, check with the court administrator.

shamus 

[dedalos]

Here is an example.  I was sued by a collection agency for $750 a few years back.  I kept telling them that they had the wrong guy, but our courts gave them permission to go after partial name matches.  So, we went to court and I won.  However, it cost me $550 to fight it, so who did really win?  You can get all the advice you want, but the only way to fight it is to go to court.  Even if you win that, they can turn around and sell that 10% dept to someone else and the process starts again.  Good luck

[guncrasher]

call your state bar's lawyer referral service, they usually have low/no charge for 1/2 hr to 1 hr initial consultation.

semp