Hi, I would like to forward a question to an US based lawyer. Kindly contact me via private message.
Thanks.

Some idea about the type of legal issue you face, the venue, etc. might help. We have 50 states each with their own laws. There are federal laws as well. The legal practice has become extremely specialized.

In other words, a NY lawyer might not be much help to you if your issue is governed by California law. An immigration lawyer, or a bankruptcy lawyer, or a products liability lawyer, might not be able to help much with SEC regulations on registration of a securty or tax laws.

Just my thoughts. I understand you might not want to disclose details, but some idea of what type of matter you need help with might generate a larger response. Your question is just very, very broad.

DISCLAIMER: This is not legal advice!

The person involved resides in New Mexico. Obviously I don't want to discuss details in public...

quote:

Originally posted by Sunshine:
The person involved resides in New Mexico. Obviously I don't want to discuss details in public...

That's not so obvious at all. Let me guess, this unknown person was a client who didn't pay you what he owed you when he got home or this client owes some governmental agency fees that you are going to have to pay if he doesn't.

If either of those or anything along those lines is the case, and you want to be paid, then you are going to have to sue him. Unless the amount is fairly large, say well over $5000 then I would suggest you chalk it up to experience and learn from it. The costs and time involved will eat such an amount up in a hurry. Let me be clear, I don't like no-paying deadbeats at ALL, but the costs of collecting, with the intricacies of the American legal system, often make collecting (and I can assure you that just because you win a suit for x amount of money, DOES NOT mean you will collect it)not worth it.

It may be possible that you could sue him in South Africa which would make a lot more sense from your POV. It also may be possible to get a judgement against him which might be enforceable. I don't know, but unless you can collect some kind of LARGE excess damages then your chances of getting a US lawyer to work on a contingency basis is near zero. That means, in my experience, that you will have to pay him at least $5000 just to undertake the case IF you file suit. Possibly a letter might work, who knows because we don't know what the issue is.

I am definitely not a lawyer so you can take all this advice with a grain of salt, but I have paid and used them extensively over the years. My Daddy, long since dead, gave me some good advice many years ago, to wit, "Son, if at all possible, stay out of court, there are rarely any winners but the lawyers." Moreover, if you're asking questions on an internet forum, then you can't be too serious, too damaged, or too mad IMO. It sounds to me like you want some legal advice for free. Lawyers have nothing to sell but their time, knowledge and skills. "Free" doesn't pay their bills, especially bar ones.

Great advice!

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
That means, in my experience, that you will have to pay him at least $5000 just to undertake the case IF you file suit. Possibly a letter might work, who knows because we don't know what the issue is.

This is good advice. You might also send him a certified letter on legal letterhead, then when he doesn't reply you can splash him on all the hunting sites and various hunt club chapters. You can really smear a guys name and still make it look like you are just trying to "get him his trophies".

"I'm trying to get in touch with Joe Doublecross. He hunted with me in 2013 and I have his trophies. I have been waiting for payment before shipping but it has been 14 months. I've sent several letters and emails to him at the Albuquerque, New Mexico address he left. Currently I am out $5000 for the government fees but I know that he would like to get his trophies so I'm not worried about it, I just need to get in touch with him. Also, I know that he is a plumber, so maybe someone can get me in touch with the local plumbers union. Boy, I sure hope old Joe is OK!"

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Great advice!

Yes, but my problem has nothing to do with hunting…

I would like to hear from an AR member, living in New Mexico, working there as a lawyer.

Well,what does it involve? Remember you started this.

quote:

Originally posted by NormanConquest:
Well,what does it involve? Remember you started this.

As mentioned before only PM please.

Gato hit the nail on the head. Winning a lawsuit doesn't mean you'll see any money. Would be great if it were as depicted on the court shows on tv. Truth is the court itself will rip you off as badly as the person you sue.

Jason,

I don't know what you do for a living, but if you are not a lawyer, you missed your true calling.

Sunshine,

I am a lawyer, but I wouldn't be interested in this type of case. I recognize that no one knows exactly what type of case it is, or how much is at stake. That's my problem.

If enough is at stake, I'd suggest you engage competant counsel -- in whatever jurisdiction is appropriate. If you don't know who you should engage or the remedies available, I'd contact counsel in your locale to give advice.

Best of luck truly.

quote:

I am a lawyer, but I wouldn't be interested in this type of case. I recognize that no one knows exactly what type of case it is, or how much is at stake. That's my problem.

lavaca, on this forum something is called "PRIVATE MESSAGING"… In the meantime I'm in contact with a lawyer from New Mexico. Thanks to a all of you.

I apologize if I offended you or violated some protocal. I wish you the best.

You are perfectly correct. You did ask for a private message. I missed that, and I do apologize.