| ► Attorney David Van Sickle of La Mirada, CA; greedy loser |
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Attorney David M. Van Sickle of La Mirada, CA; greedy loser
The state of California provided David M. Van Sickle with a law license in 1993 after he graduated from Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles, 3rd tier crapper
The California Bar Court found David guilty of the following misconduct.
In one matter, the client was injured in an automobile accident while driving a U.S. Postal Service truck. The client originally hard another lawyer to had her personal injury claim. After the first lawyer did significant work on the case, the client decided to handle it herself. The lawyer then filed al lien against any recovery in the amount of $1,289.73 in costs plus one third of any recovery.
The woman subsequently hired Dave to handle both personal injury lawsuits, a workers’ compensation claims and the fee dispute with the first attorney. The fee agreement called for Dave to receive 35% of any settlement or judgment plus costs. Dave said the client (victim) agreed to bear the full risk that she would be required to pay the first attorney his fees as well as pay Dave’s 35% contingent fee. The clients aid Dave was a liar because he never explained that she would have to pay both fees.
Subsequently, this is exactly what happened when the client received a $50,000 settlement. A fee arbitrator awarded the first lawyer $12,500 and Dave took $14,875. Together, the two lawyers were paid 53.75% of the settlement, an amount that the review department said was unconscionable.
Dave also charged the client a 25% fee for the workers compensation case, in which the client received nothing but medical benefits she obtained prior to hiring him. Dave collected more than $2,200, 35% of the amount the client received from her employer for her medical bills. The review department found that Van Sickle was entitled to no fees in this matter.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the supporters for Attorney Misfits sitting on the California Bar Court punished David by gifting him with a 90-day suspension of his law license.
As we speak (ca. June 2012) David continues to practice law in La Mirada, California area.
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