Stockholm Syndrome is when captive or abused people start to feel positive feelings toward the one doing them harm. There’s a version of that which plays out every day with Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers.

Some terrible Illinois work comp attorneys treat their clients like garbage. Most people would look at that situation and say to themselves they are going to get a new lawyer. Some people unfortunately take the abuse even as it gets worse and worse.

A woman who called me recently was freaking out about her work comp case and attorney. He hadn’t called her back for two weeks and she thought there was a hearing coming up in a few days. She went on to tell me that when she did talk to him he was rude and condescending and often yelled at her or called her dumb.

Her biggest concern was what was going to happen at the hearing. I of course don’t know because I’m not in touch with the opposing attorney and don’t know if her lawyer is at all ready. It certainly doesn’t seem ready for trial as her lawyer isn’t preparing her. She wanted to know if she should show up or not.

That was another question I couldn’t answer although I could say it’s unlikely she was needed or that the case was going forward. Her case was a serious shoulder injury that was denied due to a medical record from five years prior. When I asked why she doesn’t just switch firms and get a stronger more caring attorney in her corner, she was worried about hurting his feelings.

What !!!!!??!!?!!

You have to be the biggest advocate for yourself in your case. At the bare minimum you should call around and get a second opinion as if to things happening with your case are normal. I tell people all of the time to stick with their current attorneys. But in this case her lawyer is clearly a pile of hot garbage.

I had never heard of him, but looked him up and discovered that he’s a one man shop. My guess is that he’s overwhelmed with cases because he has no help. If he’s on trial for example, he won’t have time to pay attention to his other clients. And he won’t have a partner or associate who can step in.

You shouldn’t be punished because your lawyer is overwhelmed. You shouldn’t take abuse. And you should look out for your life without worry of how it will affect some attorney who is awful to you.

I wish this was an isolated incident, but I have similar calls 15-20 times a year. The good news is that people who do switch to a better firm before it’s too late usually end up thrilled with how their case went.