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03 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
We hired mrs. Shelby and her Lawfirm to assist in my husband removal proceedings and to adjust status. At first everything seemed to be OK. We were told that they could possibly have my husband taken out of removal proceedings. We signed a contract for a flat fee not including mailing cost and supplies used during case. Of course that is normal with most attorneys. We signed our contract with her assistant. Three months passed after we signed the contract. We hadn't received any calls or updates. During this time I made calls to her office they would take my name and number down and continue to say they would call me back. When an assistant finally called me back I was informed the legal assistant handling our case left her Lawfirm. No one had told us anything all this time had passed and we believed that my husbands case was being worked on. When in fact the new assistant didn't know anything about our case and it seemed Shelby herself had forgotten about my husband cause. We were called into the office to review everything. We were then asked to sign documents so they could catch up with his case. We were with her for a little over two years. During this time she had gone through three translators. Each time someone left we were not contacted and there was mass confusion time lost and many mistakes made. Deadlines not met. We would call her office to speak with her and the assistant would always take our number and say she would call us back. Two weeks would pass before we would get a call back. We tried to be understanding knowing they have other clients. During this time we contacted her to ask if we could continue the process due to complications. She explained she would give us some time to handle the complications and to contact her to continue with the process. In a week we had contacted her to explain we handled the complications. She did not contact us back. Two and a half weeks went by and she contacted us back. She said she would still continue the process. During this time all documents that were asked for were provided. We paid her a large amount of money to keep up with the visa center website among other things. During this time notes were added to the website. Documents that weren't submitted correctly were rejected and each time I had to inform her office. I would call to speak with her and the assistant would do the same again. Many days would pass before I would get a call. Documents would have to be resubmitted again. Documents that should have been submitted the first time weren't. Each time new documents are submitted to the National visa center website that starts the 30 day clock all over again for them to be viewed. Applications that were supposed to be mailed months ago; were said to have been mailed. When they weren't. In the end my husband was sent back to his country. we were blamed for the mistakes made in the case. She claimed because we changed our minds about travel arrangements. Which had nothing to do with employees leaving her Lawfirm. Had nothing to do with documents not being submitted at all or incorrectly. Our travel arrangements had nothing to do with applications not being mailed either. She then returned money due to applications not being mailed. She withdrew from the case and still claimed after we paid the entire flat fee; that we still owe her more money for work she did. She was already paid for her work and didn't complete the work. Many errors were made. She made many false Accusations towards my name. left out many calls made to her office by me and my husband in an outline given to us with our documents. with falsely typed notes making more false Accusations. She continued to blame us for mistakes made in the case instead of taking responsibility for her wrongs. I believe if she would have kept up with my husbands case he would have been able to finish his paperwork here in the U.S. Her inability to keep up with the case load made neg. impacts on my husband's cas
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08 Feb, 2018 by Anonymous
We hired Azelie Shelby to represent us with the trademark office - the other party had filed for an extension of time to oppose but, in the meantime, wanted to work with us on an amicable settlement which involved amending our original trademark application, which we were open to and saw no problem with - She had three whole months before the extension expired to work something out with the other party so the opposition hearing could be averted. But, instead, three months passed by without any communication with us from her firm or her (even though she had both our email address and phone number on file and was explicitly asked to reach out to us and keep us informed and updated anytime) - The result was that we ended up receiving a formal Notice of Opposition from USPTO at the end of the three month period and were forced to call her office ourselves to find out what went wrong. She chose to blame the other party, proceeded to charge us for every single interaction that happened during this time (even follow up emails from us asking about the status of our case) and also asked us to put another huge retainer down to defend and protect our trademark, despite the fact that she failed to do the job she was hired for in the first place. Being a small, family-owned startup business, we simply could not afford another retainer so, in good faith, we just paid her the balances due and decided not to engage her services again - For the record, we had also consulted other lawyers informally, as a backup, during that time and they all agreed that we had a good and sound case but because we had already hired Azelei Shelby we just waited and trusted that she would act in our best interest. There was no reason not to. Unfortunately, that did not happen. We lost a very good and fairly strong case and had to abandon our trademark because she took too long to make a proper move and we were left with no time to hire another attorney to save our case before it became too late. And for us it was, indeed, too late but at that time we were too naive to realize that, from some attorney's standpoint, there is more money to be made in lawsuits and endless legal hearings than resolving a trademark dispute quickly & amicably for the client before it gets to that irreversible point. We hope this review helps others learn from what turned out to be a very painful experience for us.
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28 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Necesitas una abogada de inmigracion les recomiendo que pongas tu caso en las manos de la abogada Shelby, La abogada Azelie Shelby, es muy amable, te ayuda en todo lo posible, muy conocedora, realmente estoy sorprendido de sus servicios y su pasion por ayudar a los indocumentados. Les recomendaria ampliamente a cualquier persona con necesidad. Definitivamente la mejor abogada de Inmigracion en Baton Rouge.
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27 Jul, 2023 by Sheila walker
Don't return msgs but don't answer the phone.
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13 Nov, 2022 by Nikki reed
20 Nov, 2019 by Mikeia crawford
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Insurance Lawyer Can Do for You
An insurance lawyer specializes in legal issues related to insurance policies and claims. These lawyers help individuals, businesses, and insurance companies navigate disputes involving insurance coverage, claim denials, bad faith claims, and policy interpretation. Insurance lawyers can represent policyholders who feel they've been unfairly denied coverage, or they can work on behalf of insurance companies to defend against fraudulent or inflated claims.
Whether you're filing a claim, disputing a denial, or dealing with complex coverage issues, an insurance lawyer can provide critical guidance and legal representation to protect your rights and ensure you receive the benefits you're entitled to under your policy.
When Should I Hire an Insurance Lawyer?
Hiring an insurance lawyer is advisable in several situations, particularly when disputes arise over insurance coverage, claim denials, or bad faith actions. Common reasons to hire an insurance lawyer include:
- Denied insurance claims: If your insurance company denies your claim, a lawyer can help determine whether the denial was justified or if you should challenge the decision.
- Bad faith insurance practices: If you believe your insurer has acted in bad faith, such as delaying payment or failing to properly investigate your claim, a lawyer can help you pursue legal action.
- Underpaid claims: If the insurance company has offered less compensation than you believe your claim is worth, a lawyer can negotiate for a higher payout or file a lawsuit.
- Coverage disputes: When there's ambiguity or disagreement about what your policy covers, a lawyer can provide clarity and advocate for your rights under the policy.
- Business insurance claims: If you own a business and are dealing with commercial insurance claims (e.g., property damage, liability, or professional indemnity), a lawyer can help ensure your business receives proper coverage.
- Third-party claims: If you're being sued for liability and your insurance company refuses to defend or indemnify you, an insurance lawyer can help enforce your coverage rights.
- Appealing long-term disability claims: If your disability insurance claim has been denied, a lawyer can assist in gathering evidence and appealing the decision to get the benefits you deserve.
What Does an Insurance Lawyer Do?
An insurance lawyer provides a wide range of services to assist with insurance-related legal issues. These can include:
- Reviewing insurance policies: A lawyer can review your insurance policy to ensure you understand your rights and obligations, as well as clarify what coverage is provided.
- Filing insurance claims: Assisting with the preparation and filing of claims to ensure all necessary documentation is submitted correctly.
- Challenging claim denials: If your claim has been denied, a lawyer can investigate the reasons for denial and file appeals or lawsuits to challenge the decision.
- Litigating bad faith claims: Representing clients in bad faith insurance cases, where the insurer fails to act in good faith by unfairly delaying, denying, or underpaying a valid claim.
- Negotiating settlements: Helping policyholders negotiate settlements with insurance companies to receive fair compensation for claims.
- Defending against fraudulent claims: Representing insurance companies to defend against false or exaggerated claims filed by policyholders or third parties.
- Handling disputes over policy language: Interpreting complex insurance policies and resolving disputes between the insured and the insurer regarding coverage limits, exclusions, and conditions.
How Are Insurance Lawyers Paid?
Insurance lawyers typically charge for their services in different ways, depending on the nature of the case and the type of insurance issue involved. Common payment structures include:
- Contingency fee: For many policyholders disputing claim denials or underpayments, lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means the lawyer only gets paid if they win or settle the case, taking a percentage (usually between 25% and 40%) of the recovered amount.
- Hourly rate: For more complex or ongoing legal issues, such as bad faith lawsuits or business insurance disputes, insurance lawyers may charge an hourly rate. This rate varies depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Flat fee: For simpler matters, such as reviewing an insurance policy or helping file a claim, some lawyers charge a flat fee for their services.
- Retainer: For businesses or clients with ongoing legal needs, an insurance lawyer may require a retainer fee, which is an upfront payment for future services.
It’s important to clarify the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does an Insurance Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an insurance lawyer depends on the complexity of the case, the lawyer's experience, and the payment structure. General cost estimates include:
- Contingency fees: If your lawyer works on a contingency fee basis, you won’t pay any fees upfront, but the lawyer will take a percentage (typically 25% to 40%) of any settlement or judgment awarded.
- Hourly rates: Hourly rates for insurance lawyers generally range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location. Complex cases involving bad faith or high-value business claims may require significant hours, leading to higher legal costs.
- Flat fees: For specific services, such as reviewing an insurance policy, lawyers may charge a flat fee ranging from $500 to $2,500, depending on the complexity of the task.
- Retainers: Businesses or individuals seeking ongoing insurance legal services may pay a retainer, which can range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the lawyer and scope of work.
Make sure to discuss costs and payment structures with your lawyer before proceeding to understand how much the services will cost.
Top Questions to Ask an Insurance Lawyer
Before hiring an insurance lawyer, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure they are the right fit for your case. Here are key questions to ask:
-
What experience do you have with insurance law?
Ensure the lawyer has specific experience handling cases involving your type of insurance, whether it’s auto, health, home, or business-related. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer works on contingency, hourly rates, or flat fees, and ask for an estimate of the total cost of your case. -
What is your success rate with insurance disputes?
Ask about the lawyer’s track record in winning or settling cases similar to yours. -
What are my chances of success?
A good lawyer will provide an honest assessment of your case’s strengths and weaknesses and outline the possible outcomes. -
How long will the process take?
Get an estimate of how long it will take to resolve your claim or dispute, as some cases can extend over months or even years. -
Will you handle my case personally?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle some aspects of your case. Make sure you know who will be managing your case.
How to Check the Credibility of an Insurance Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable insurance lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Verify their state bar license: Check with your state bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no disciplinary actions.
- Review their experience in insurance law: Look at the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in insurance law and have experience with cases like yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Search for reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s expertise and professionalism.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have dealt with similar insurance issues.
- Check for industry memberships: Membership in organizations like the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) can indicate the lawyer’s focus on insurance law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with an insurance lawyer, come prepared with the following documents and information:
- A copy of your insurance policy: Bring the policy related to your claim or dispute so the lawyer can review the coverage details.
- Any correspondence with the insurance company: Provide copies of letters, emails, or other communications between you and your insurer regarding the claim or denial.
- Proof of claim and supporting documents: Bring any documentation you have submitted with your claim, including receipts, invoices, photos, medical records, or repair estimates.
- List of questions: Prepare a list of questions you want to ask about your case, the legal process, and the potential outcomes.
- Timeline of events: Be ready to provide a clear timeline of the incident that led to the claim and any steps you’ve taken with your insurance company.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can ensure that the lawyer has all the information they need to assess your case and provide the best legal advice.
