Is this ethical?

Avatar for susieyippin
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Is this ethical?
5
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 8:35am

STBX's lawyer showed up at the courthouse on Tuesday. It turns out that the lawyer had represented STBX and ME in 2002 when we were trying to get our business rezoned in our town. Mostly STBX saw him, but I know I went to at LEAST 2 meeting with STBX and the lawyer, and I went to at LEAST 1, maybe 2 meetings with the lawyer by myself, because I wanted to get the terminology and lien procedures correct on the lease, and the lawyer went over them with me. STBX and I also accompanied the lawyer to a zoning board meeting.

I told a dear friend about STBX's lawyer, and the fact that he'd represented US previously, and my friend said it was unethical, and a conflict of interest.

I mentioned this to STBX, and he flipped out, screaming, pointing his fingers at me and shouting that I was just mad because things didn't go the way I wanted them to go at the courthouse the previous day, and that what I wanted was unfair. WRONG-- I feel he should have a lawyer, just not OUR lawyer. Correct, I did not like the way things went, HOWEVER, that is a separate issue, and I'm sure another lawyer would have advised him the same way.

My question is: Is this ethical for OUR lawyer to represent STBX? I feel very funny about this. I didn't mention it to my lawyer at the time, but I emailed her; she hasn't gotten back to me yet.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2005
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 11:10am

Hi.


Me and My STBX had a lawyer for a fairly minor legal thing, basically just to draw up the papers, and I guess since this lawyer knows all of the financial information that was in the first legal problem, that it could be a conflict of interest.

Avatar for susieyippin
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 11:19am
Thanks for the reply. I consider STBX's lawyer OUR lawyer, since I am 50% of the business that he represented in our legal matters. It just gives me a bad taste, you know? I'll give my lawyer a call to see if she's had a chance to read my emails, and to remind her about the lawyer situation with STBX.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2005
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 12:20pm

Susie,


Definitely where this attorney had represented you AND your STBX

Avatar for susieyippin
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 7:28pm
I spoke with the lawyer a little while ago, and she said that she thought it was not a good idea for Attorney P to represent STBX, since the both of us had had his as our attorney, and she would definitely pursue this. She also thinks that STBX is hiding a portion of our income... no surprise there! She hadn't realized the depth of my involvement in our businesses... every month I do the invoices, post the payments, make adjustments to the accounts when necessary (because STBX doesn't compute accurately-- and HE's the supposed math wiz ;-) ), make the ads, websites (when we had one)... all without a paycheck (or thanks).
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 9:58pm

I'm glad that you talked to your attorney about this... and yes, I think it's unethical... and that attorney should've put the brakes on this before it ever began.


Keep us updated!


Karen ~ wildlucky4me

Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~