Ended Up Hiring An Attorney - Guy is a "Jerk"

Well I ended up hiring an attorney after my 18 months fight with my LTD carrier. They took away almost $300,000 in life insurance benefits and that's when I decided I cant fight this anymore. Hired a fellow, that is just not friendly at all!!!

He is so condescending, rude, and at times seems to be taking the side of the LTD carrier. I do allot of "I am sorry" "Thank you for your help" I just cringe when I have to talk to him, he makes me feel so little.

He at one point told me they had no right to take away my life insurance policies, then yesterday after he talked to the LTD company says to me "Your not going to get it" very rudely, I was thinking "what" I hired you to fight this...I asked him what do you think my chances are in getting this turned around from a disability for depression to one for Migraines, fibromyalgia and neuropathies? He said yea I think they will, they just needed to know an attorney is involved.

At the mercy of people already struggling and suffering financially, why is there not a law against these insurance companies treating disabled people so bad they have to end up hiring an attorney, he gave them nothing more than I have given them...this is just insane, I had to take money out of my 401K plan and it has already cost me, $5800 in just taxes and I am not done yet. Is there any government agency that watches these insurance companies or any one monitor their practices.

Finally any support in dealing with a jerk of an attorney would be appreciated. I know if he gets the job done that is all that matters, but I am losing sleep over how this guy talks to me!!!

Hannah,

Just a word of personal experience. Attorneys can be complete a$$holes. They can be condescending and rude. If you suspect that he is not working for you, file a complaint with the Bar. Attorneys are governed by the Bar and if you suspect he's not working in your best interests, that's a violation. I guess, I'd not be so polite. After all YOU are paying HIM. You deserve to get on-your-side representation and if he can't provide it, nothing says you can't seek another opinion.

I know it's hard and just stinks when you are ill. Hang in there.

Thanks for your response, he is a Yale graduate so I think the guy is smart, he is just very rude. At times I feel like he does not believe my pain. He often makes comments like so when you get these headaches are you in bed all day, and if I say yes he will again ask "all day" I just feel like I am having to fight him too...

My sister says if he gets the job done then just ignore all the other stuff. But its hard, I would never treat someone like that especially someone that was going thru a hard time.....

If I were you, I'd fire the @#$%. There is no need to put up with that crap. There are a lot of attorneys out there and I would find one who respects you. I only had to use a lawyer once, but he was great; even lowered his fee to straighten out a mess I created (I guess he took pity on me).

You need to stand up to this guy (Yale degree be damned), and kick him to the curb. Again, there are lot's of them out there and you're self respect is paramount. You're better than that.

Good luck!

Hannah,

When I came across rude people I used to think that when I am nice enough to them they will eventually be nice to me too. Wrong!!!
They will just continue to treat you like a doormat. I learned (mostly from my hubby) that kicking up a stink usually sorts them out for good.

Go and get the respect you deserve from this dude.

Love

P.

Thank you Petzi and 02R96, the guy really has done nothing for me. I did all the research, obtained all the medial records, I have basically done everything but its probably better otherwise I am sure my bill would be outrageous.

He would ask me, when you get these headaches are you in bed all day and I would say yes sometimes for days, he would reply very rudely "ALL DAY" this guy is suppose to be fighting for me! If I questioned something he would say "Do you understand me" Not an empathetic bone in his body. I rarely communicate with him at this point to me he is not worth it. Simple emails like yes, no, or answer whatever he wants.

The LTD company says they want to put me thru some type of Vocational Rehabilitation, yet the government has approved me for a disability, the first try and these guys just keep making my life more miserable. To me this is when he should stand up and say "hey my client does not intend on returning to work, she cannot work" but he wants to play their game...

Does anyone think now the SS was approved they will lay off me with all this rehab stuff and convert the disability to a medical from one for depression?

Makes me so angry, I am half tempted when this is all over to contact the Insurance commissioner, maybe I should have done that a long time ago....

Thank you both and all of you for all you continued support...
Hanna

Hannah

The basic ploy of insurance companies is to take people's money and then deny as many claims as they can. They make it difficult because many people will finally give up and go away. They have nothing to gain by being reasonable. Your only option is to hire a lawyer to push back. But he should be a jerk to them, not to you. If you are not happy with him, fire him and get another.

The other option is to go to your state insurance commission to see if hey have any help. But be advised that many state insurance commissions take election money from the insurance companies themselves and it's all legal. The insurance companies also donate a lot of money to state legislatures who make the laws. Get the picture that this is rigged against us?

Until people realize how bad it is and vote against this type of behavior it will not get any better. But the don't find this out until they too need to make a claim and by then it is too late.

That is horrible, so much corruption...thank you for that information, I will be careful. I was thinking of writing a letter to the insurance commissioner The LTD insurance carrier is in a different state than I am would I contact my insurance commissioner or the one in their state????

This attorney is not giving a good enough fight for me. He is condescending to me and rude. I had talked to about 6 attorney's and none of them got back to me one even said they could not take my case on. He is the only one that agreed to help, what little he is helping.

I have to maintain the attitude, of not backing down I just have to. I have racked up a bill with him already in the thousands he don't care....I despise attorneys sorry to offend anyone out there but they are just money hungry and prey on the weak...horrible people!!!