Michael John Majdick

We retained this attorney for several cases, and I provided extensive evidence and all principal case documentation prepared in advance for each one. First, a work comp case involving a seriously injured spouse who has been permanently disabled and bedridden on and off for over 4 years with a signifi...cant spinal back injury and with multiple confirming MRI's. Unbelievably, the attorney quickly agreed with the adjuster to initially settle without our consent, and to waive all past and future unpaid wages, all past and future unpaid medical care, all rights to any appeals, and all job retraining benefits for a lump sum payment netting under 4k to us. He then asked us for a signed agreement to authorize exemption from the State's limits capping attorney's fees by virture of his superior work performance, and exceptional legal skills; seeking to significantly increase his own compensation by more than 200%! Shockingly, an internal document from his case file showed a serious conflict of interest and that he had been negotiating with the adjuster for his increased fee. Upon receipt of settlement documents 'out of the blue' we notified the attorney we would not sign them; nor sign the attorney's authorization for increased fees. He was terminated shortly thereafter. After reviewing his judicial record and disciplinary complaint file with the State Bar; we decided not to file our own charges which would just take time away from getting medical care. The second closely related case involved an exaccerbation of the seriously injured spine; which was dropped within a few weeks because the attorney stated he 'did not like to be involved in litigation'. The third case involving contract fraud, breech of contract, conversion, theft, misappropriation, gross negligence, and multiple specific failures to perform in the selling of collectibles by a Nationally known auctioneer to pay medical bills and ongoing expenses; was also dropped despite involving more than 200k. The reason cited was the attorney's desire to avoid litigation and that the other party intended to challenge the claim which would prolong a settlement. Isn't it an attorney's specific duty to work on behalf of their clients honestly and ethically, AND to litigate if and when necessary? It is incredulous that our attorney expected the cases to settle with only a few phone calls using the case files and documents I had professionally prepared, indexed and sequenced over the past few years, then dropped 2 cases which MIGHT require litigation, yet he seemingly sought to take credit for my casework to increase his own fees in the work comp claim.