Why Was I Denied Representation?
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on August 28, 2023
When something bad happens and there’s a need for help in navigating through the legal sphere to get fair compensation and a successful resolution, contacting a lawyer is the first line of defense. Thoroughly researched and properly contacted, you might meet the perfect lawyer for your case who accepts you right away, but that’s not always how it works out – sometimes, your case is denied.
Firstly, you might have trouble finding a lawyer that you like, and when you do find one, just because you have a case and contact them, that doesn’t mean they have to accept your case. Cases are denied every day for a variety of different reasons, and the decision to deny representation isn’t taken lightly by lawyers – there’s likely a good reason behind the denial.
But why you? Why was your case denied? Here’s 6 reasons that your case might be denied representation from your Louisville, KY lawyers, Cooper and Friedman.
1. The Case Is Not Viable
In order to be successful, lawyers must know that there is substance behind a claim and that it can legally be pursued. If you make a claim that is outside of the statute of limitations (usually 2 years after the date of the incident) or do not have sufficient evidence, then a lawyer might not see your case as a viable one.
2. The Case Will Not Be Profitable
If you have a viable case, that still doesn’t ensure representation from a lawyer. If the payout won’t cover the case’s costs and time spent towards it, then a firm may deny it. While most lawyers operate under a code of ethics and seek to make a positive difference in their community and for the people who seek them out, sometimes there aren’t enough resources available to take on a case that won’t pay the firm’s bills.
3. The Case is Unrelated to the Attorney’s Area of Practice
Oftentimes, lawyers have a specific area of practice that is outlined on their website or in their name. They might be an insurance recovery attorney, a personal injury attorney, or a family attorney. Having these specialties means that lawyers usually only take on cases within that sphere. Cooper and Friedman has enough combined experience to provide a wide array of services, which include:
- Motor Vehicle Collision
- Truck Accident
- Personal Injury
- Workers’ Compensation
- Motorcycle Accident
- Civil Rights & Police Misconduct
- Slip and Fall
- Elder Law & Nursing Home Neglect
- Product Liability
- Unfair Credit Reporting & Debt Collection
- Medical Malpractice
- Child Injury
However, if you bring your case to the wrong kind of lawyer, they might deny it due to inexperience in the area.
4. There is a Conflict of Interest
As mentioned before, lawyers operate on a code of ethics that is important to uphold to establish trust and a good reputation. A conflict of interest between an attorney and a case could be many things, but is usually due to a previous client or personal relationship with the defendant, defendant’s lawyer, or witness. If a lawyer could potentially have an investment in a case outside of their representation, then they are likely to turn it away due to this conflict of interest.
5. The Firm Has Reached Its Case Threshold
Case denial can also be due to reasons as simple as the lawyers don’t have the time to work on another case. Their firm might already be in the middle of litigation with several other clients and, at the end of the day, you’ll want a lawyer who is able to devote their proper attention and resources to you, so denial of the case is best for both parties.
6. Poor Client Relationship or Reputation
Finally, your case might be denied due to a rift between the client and the attorney. If one party lies to the other, feels they cannot disclose information, or lacks the necessary communication skills, trust and progress will be difficult to establish and the match won’t be a great fit. Also, if the client has a reputation of petty litigation or bad behavior, a lawyer might deny a case if it’s serious enough.
If you or someone you love has suffered losses in the state of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of Kentucky victims. Contact us with questions you might have or schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.