Over the past couple of years I've worked with a two-person team of lawyers, Sam Leonard and Morgan Lake, on a civil collections case which has finally concluded in our favor. Not only did I not remember ever being in the hospital who sent collections after me; up until the subpoena I received no ind...ication that these bills even existed. I felt like someone had dropped a piano on my head.
Ultimately the diligence and hard work of Sam Leonard and Morgan Lake resulted in a ruling in our favor on appeal, after a strange initial dismissal of both parties' claims despite finding significant fault with the collections agency's practices. The appeals court released an opinion that is likely to be helpful to the defenses of other people in a similar position as I was. They didn't just do good for me, but their fight had ripple effects that will help other people protect themselves against being taken advantage of as I personally feel that I was. Ultimately an agreement was reached with the parties that took improper legal action against me which left both myself and my lawyers in a better place than when we began our fight.
At every step of the way, both Sam and Morgan displayed a quiet confidence in their abilities and as time went on it became clear why. They communicated thoughtfully and clearly every time we spoke which made it easy for a layman like myself to understand the process, my place in it, and the status of the case. They demonstrated thorough knowledge of the law as it pertains to my case. They're not just competent lawyers, they are *good people* who sincerely care about injustice in the world and are making it their mission to fight against. I went from being alone, panicked, and desperate to having two extremely intelligent and professional men on my side. Men with principles, something that I fear is becoming rare in our age. After going through what was already an extremely difficult experience and painful injuries, being sued for (what is to me) a large amount of money that I believed I didn't or shouldn't have owed was incredibly stressful, and frankly frightening. I am not a wealthy man in the financial sense. ...But because of the honorable efforts and endurance of Sam and Morgan I came out of this awful situation in a stronger position than I started--not something I expected, and more than I could realistically have hoped for... Especially in a world where it seems the odds are stacked against the little guy, no matter how righteous his position might be. I am so thankful for their help that I don't think I could ever adequately articulate it. I'm not a poet. What I can say is that these are good men in a corrupted world. I am grateful that the threads of fate, along with my reluctance to roll over to what I feel were unjust actions against me, brought us together. I know that their hearts are in this kind of work and that they want to do more of it so please reach out to them if you are in a similar position to the one I was in.
If you are dealing with a civil collection claim against you and believe that those bringing the claim have acted improperly, if you dispute that you actually owe the money, if you feel that you have been taken advantage of and need legal help, don't be afraid to reach out to Sam Leonard or Morgan Lake. Even if you are unable to pay them to retain their services, they may offer you a contingency agreement that takes that burden off of you. If you lose, you lose nothing, but if you win, everyone wins, including others in your position. We shouldn't roll over and accept injustice if we have the means to fight it. With these two men, you do have the means, if you are truly being sued improperly. Don't be a victim. Collections agencies need to operate within the law and do their jobs fairly, and they need to know that if they act improperly, unfairly or unlawfully they will be held accountable.
Morgan, Sam: Thank you for standing up for what you believe in and defending me.