This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
If opposing counsel isn't responding: Document your repeated efforts at contact, including your statement of the consequence of continued nonresponse. Wait a reasonable amount of time. To be safe, get a court order authorizing direct contact.
Lawyers can withdraw based on the fact their client refuses to be truthful, refuses to follow the attorney's advice, demands to pursue an unethical course of action, demands unrealistic results, desires to mislead the Court, refuses to cooperate with their counsel as well as countless other reasons.
8 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel Point out Common Ground. Don't be Afraid to Ask Why. Separate the Person from the Problem. Focus on your Interests. Don't Fall for your Assumptions. Take a Calculated Approach. Control the Conversation by Reframing. Pick up the Phone.
You would use a motion to disqualify counsel to request that the court remove the opposing party's attorney from the case.
8 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel Point out Common Ground. Don't be Afraid to Ask Why. Separate the Person from the Problem. Focus on your Interests. Don't Fall for your Assumptions. Take a Calculated Approach. Control the Conversation by Reframing. Pick up the Phone.
Contact the Local Bar Association: If your lawyer continues to be unresponsive, contact your local or state bar association. They can provide guidance and may have a grievance procedure for attorney misconduct. In some cases, they can also help in mediating the situation.
As set forth in the Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers, §108(4), “A tribunal should not permit a lawyer to call opposing trial coun- selas a witness unless there is a compelling need for the lawyer's testimony.” (emphasis added) Many jurisdictions follow this gen- eral rule, e.g., Louisiana.
Consider filing a motion: If opposing counsel's lack of cooperation persists, you might consider filing a motion to compel meet and confer or for sanctions. However, this should be a last resort and only after discussing the issue with the judge at the Case Management Conference.
As a caution, any objection to statements made during closing arguments must be timely. As a general rule, failure to promptly make the objection will waive the objection for appeal. There may be an exception to this rule if the comments were so inflammatory that a party was denied a fair trial.
You want to keep it short and sweet: show the judge(s) succinctly why the argument is wrong and then move on to something else. You don't want a long, detailed response to inadvertently add credibility to the dumb argument by suggesting that it's not actually that simple.