These are just a few case studies and testimonials that reflect the effectiveness and efficiency of our Legal Hotline. We refer to these as "good stories." Our attorneys actually have a hard time identifying good stories because they consider these additional efforts and superior approaches just a part of their every day job assisting those that need their help.
A 76 year old gentleman living in the Cadillac area called the Hotline to enlist our help in withdrawing funds he needed from what he termed an "investment" with an insurance company. The funds were actually in a 401K plan set up by his previous employer. When the caller contacted the fund administrator, an insurance company, he was told the company was in receivership and that withdrawals were not possible. A Hotline attorney, with assistance from a law school student intern, made contact with the insurance company to see if there might be any options for withdrawal of the funds and learned of the possibility of a hardship withdrawal. The appropriate forms were requested and received and the caller was coached and assisted along a lengthy process of application. With the Hotline's help, this client was able to receive a check for $12,000.00 in response to his hardship appeal.
'The attorney listened to all of my questions and gave me answers that I could understand. He was very friendly and helpful.' -Robert Boys
Ill-fitting dentures might seem a minor annoyance but an 89 year old woman who called the Hotline described her experience with them as a "big problem." She had gone to a dentist for repair of a tooth but alleged the dentist did the work poorly causing her upper plate to become loose although it was fine before she got into the chair. Additionally, she claimed the dentist charged her for work not performed. Since she was unable to resolve the matter with the dentist she stopped payment on her check for the service. The dentist responded by turning the matter over to a debt collector. After having the denture repaired by a second dentist, at nominal cost, she called us for help in responding to the debt collector and possible action for damages for poor quality workmanship. Our attorney explained to the client that an action for damages probably wasn't feasible but ghost wrote a letter for her to send to the dentist outlining her position: that in exchange for the dentist abandoning his claim for charges, she would not pursue any claim for damages to her upper denture. The dentist accepted the offer and both parties felt comfortable with the resolution.
'Easy to understand the language and not a lot of legal terms. This is very helpful for myself, as I have never been in this situation before.'
-Janet Dipple
The Hotline receives a fair number of calls from clients who receive bills on accounts of deceased spouses. Under Michigan law, spouses are not liable if they were not a signator on the account, or never agreed in writing to pay it. Usually the calls we get are at the time the surviving spouse is billed. However, in the case of the 77 year old widow who called us with her problem, she had already been paying on the debt, unnecessarily, for about 2 years. When the card issuer, a large bank, got greedy and wanted to raise the monthly payment to an unaffordable amount, she called us for help. We explained that she was not liable on this debt and thus not obligated to make the payments she had been routinely sending. Our attorney helped her to write a letter - with a copy of the husband's death certificate - clarifying his death and explaining her exemption from liability for this debt. The bank advised her they would no longer hold her responsible and closed the account, thus saving the client about $150.00 per month for the next unknown and uncountable, but certainly several years.
'I was sincerely pleased with the advice Mr. Carowitz gave to me, over the phone. The information he mailed to me was also very helpful! I am very grateful that, at last, I am able to defend myself. Thank God there are people like you to help people like us (seniors)!!' -Margaret Kocsisko*
Hotline calls reveal that it is not unusual for even legitimate businesses to take advantage of senior consumers. An 82 year old Lansing woman called the Hotline to about retrieving a refund for prepaid burial services at a local funeral home. She was fighting cancer, and wanted to move back to where her relatives lived in Virginia and use the refund for purchase of burial services there. The funeral home agreed with the client that she was entitled to a refund, as well as the total amount paid of $1597. They nevertheless chose to stonewall her for the full amount, offering instead $1193 or they would "negotiate" with a funeral home of her choice in Virginia for services, however for an amount less than what she had paid. Feeling like she was being unnecessarily nicked for $400.00, she called for our help. Our attorney contacted the appropriate person at the funeral home who did agree to transfer the full amount client had paid to a Virginia funeral home of her choice, which was agreeable to the client. The brief intervention of a legal advocate made all the difference in the home's attitude.
'The attorney was a enormous help to me. He went above his duty to listen to me.Thanks a million.' -Ericka Marrero
'They returned my call at the time and date they promised. Attorney was plesant and helpful.' -Cheryl Clark
*All client names and information were used with express written permission.