Compensation help.

[mel35]

My MIL is awaiting a compensation payout, she is very confused about it all, and some of the things the solicitor has done seem a bit odd to me, so I would really like anyones views.
* A friend of her solicitors came around to her house, spent an hour checking everything out and did a 2 page report on what work needs to be done on her house. The solicitor told her it needed to be done"just in case" it goes to court (which it didn't) and this cost $2500-00 (which seems to me to be rather excessive).
*Her solicitor told her it would take 6 weeks till she gets her money because it has to go into trust first and that she does not get the interest. I would have thought the money was hers not the solicitors.
*the solicitor paid her outstanding doctors fees for her regular GP (which is part of the compensation payout) before she had even agreed to a settlement, this also seems irregular.
*the solicitor was at her house picking up paperwork and he used MIL's phone to make a $13-00 call to a barrister which was not reimbursed (apparently the solicitor does not own a mobile phone).
*she also had to go to a number of sessions with a psych counsellor who was also a friend of the solicitors, I'm unsure of the cost of this, but there was a report done again for "just in case " it goes to court.


Each thing on it's own seems pretty small and trivial but in my suspicious eyes he has seen a very vulnerable elderly woman and is taking her for everything he can.
I would appreciate any input good or bad, coz I really have no idea, Thank you:)

[Cherie]

Doesn't look right to me Mel, is there any way you could go to a Solicitor of your choice and sus this out? A decent solicitor will not charge you very much for advice.
One of my friends works for a solicitor and I will ask her what she thinks if ok with you.:)

[mel35]

I think this is her 3rd or 4th solicitor for the case, it involves medical error causing death at a very large NSW public hospital, so she has had lots of problems with cover ups and it is very hard to know who to trust.
Cherie that would be great if you could ask your friend, at the moment hubby wants to go up and confront the solicitor but I would rather be armed with information first, so anything at all would be helpful. Thank you:)

[Naomi]

Mel, there's a toll free number on THIS SITE (http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/olsc/ll_olsc.nsf/pages/OLSC_complaints), your MIL may be able to ring and ask if these things are normal or if he's acting inappropriately.

[mel35]

Thanks so much for that Naomi I will go and ring them when the kids leave:)

[Mad Old Cow]

gee it sounds awful Mel i Cherie is getting some info for you & naomi has given you a numbe rto phone so see how you go with them & yes i do think hubby should go with her when ever he can or be in the room with his mum & the solicitor just so they can see that she is not on her own. good luck with everthing Mel

[Heather]

Very good idea Di.

[sandydee]

sounds very odd:yes:find it very strange that a solicitor doesnt have his own mobile phone:blink:good luck with it Mel.

[Cherie]

Sorry Mel,
My girlfriend is still up on the Sunshine coast on school hols. Will see her Sunday if possible.:D