Analysis of Law Partners itemised bill

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Revision as of 08:24, 12 December 2023 by Alfas (talk | contribs) (→‎Disbursements)

This short analysis of the Law Partners itemized bill as a part of the problem of exaggerated legal fees. I went through only part of it.

Itemized bill has 26 items. I am checking all items one by one to see what they are really charging for. The analysis is based on the information that I have. If I find any additional information, I will update this fee analysis. These fees seem exceptionally unfair, and it feels like a part of scam (I can find a better word for it). I will write additional information about the pain and suffering it caused me. However, for this I will need help from a psychologist and other supporting people.

Summary

  1. Charge for all phone calls and emails twice: as part of other items and additionally individually just calls or correspondence, even if by the contract they were already covered by other items and should not be charged additionally (items: 1, 2, 3, 5).
  2. Charge for the tasks they have not performed, but simply asked the client to provide final information (item 4).
  3. I had a look at 34 general communication items: 7 have no correspondence, 6 were just notifications of appointment, for notification of appointment with Dr Khan they charge 4 times. None of them should have been charged based on the contract.
  4. They made and error in adding 2 number by adding extra $2000.

Itemized bill analysis

Table

Note:

  • italic - text from Law Partners itemized bill
  • bold italic - text from Law Partners contract.

Item. Fee code Description Bill Amount Corrected Amount
1. B Telephone Attendances (10 @ $50.00)
To/From Client:, 30/05/18, 14/06/18, 27/09/18, 12/03/19, 3/05/19, 29/10/19, 30/10/19, 4/02/20, 8/05/20 (x2), 		500.00 0
B - from contract Telephone attendance. Each telephone attendance not directly related to other items in this schedule.
Data

Dr Stonis calls history.

DateDurationType
2018-05-30no record found
2018-06-14no record found
2018-09-2738sOutgoing
2019-03-126m 17sOutgoing
2019-05-036m 29sOutgoing
2019-10-294m 0sOutgoing
2019-10-301m 34sOutgoing
2020-02-045m 34sOutgoing
2020-05-081m 23sOutgoing
               Total 25m 55s.
Analysis
  1. All calls are directly related to other items and should not be duplicated here.
  2. There is only 1 call in call history on 2020-05-08.
2. B Telephone Attendances (10 @ $50.00)
To/From third parties: 26/04/18, 30/05/18, 18/07/18, 23/07/18, 15/08/18, 26/11/18, 10/01/19, 25/10/19, 13/11/19, 7/01/20		 500.00 0
Analysis
  1. There are no records of these calls being made.
  2. All Law Partners activities related to the claim are covered by other items. If some calls were made they should be covered by other items from the fees list.
3. B Telephone Attendances (5 @ $50.00)
To/From McInnes Wilson Lawyers: 29/1/20 (x2), 17/03/20, 6/05/20 (x2)		 250.00 0
Analysis
  1. There are no records of these calls being made.
  2. All Law Partners activities related to the claim are covered by other items. If some calls were made they should be covered by other items from the fees list.
4. F Centrelink (Repayment) Estimate (1 @ $90.00): 22/10/19 90.00 0
F - from contract Centrelink (repayment estimate). All activities required to obtain repayment / payback estimate from Centrelink (including, for example, correspondence, completion of estimate forms, telephone attendances and advice to you).
Analysis
  1. The estimate and amount received was provided to Gillian Potts.
  2. There is no record of any estimate done by Potts.
5. G General Correspondence: (132 @ $180.00)
To/from Client: 16/04/18, 28/04/18, 1/05/18, 7/05/18, 10/05/18, 15/5/18 (x2), 30/05/18, 6/06/18, 11/06/18, 14/06/18, 17/06/18, 18/06/18, 5/07/18, 9/07/18, 10/07/18, 18/07/18 (x2), 19/07/18, 26/07/18, 3/8/18 (x2), 4/09/18 (x2), 2/10/18, 4/10/18, 11/10/18, 26/11/18, 29/11/18, 17/12/18, 8/01/19, 17/01/19, 9/03/19, 12/03/19, 16/03/19 (x2), 18/03/19, 25/03/19, 28/03/19, 3/04/19 (x2), 17/04/19 (x2), 18/04/18 (x4), 21/04/19, 22/04/19(x2), 23/04/19, 24/04/19, 28/04/19, 29/04/19 (x5), 30/04/19 (x4), 2/05/19, 22/05/19 (x2), 8/07/19, 9/07/19 (x3), 11/07/19, 18/07/19 (x2), 20/08/19, 26/08/19, 25/09/19, 30/809/19, 1/10/19 (x2), 2/10/19 (x2), 3/10/19 (x2), 4/10/19, 8/10/19, 14/10/19, 17/10/19, 24/10/19 (x2), 27/10/19, 25/10/19, 27/10/19 (x2), 28/10/19, 29/10/19 (x2), 30/10/19, 4/11/19, 6/11/19, 9/12/19, 17/12/19, 19/12/19 (x2), 26/12/19, 8/01/20, 9/01/20, 20/01/20, 4/02/20, 5/02/20, 2/03/20, 3/03/20, 17/03/20, 18/03/20, 20/03/20, 14/04/20, 23/04/20 (x2), 24/04/20, 28/04/20 (x2), 29/04/20 (x2), 6/05/20 (x3), 7/05/20 (x3), 8/05/20 (x3), 11/05/20		 23,760.00 0
G - from contract General correspondence. Drafting, reviewing and finalizing each general incoming and outgoing correspondence not directly related to other items in this schedule.
Data

Dr Stonis email history.

DateSent / ReceivedBrief descriptionRelated itemFee based on the contract
2018-04-16-there were no emails on this day0
2018-04-28SentShort list of injuries for Alfonsas Stonis caseIntended for items 30 and 33. Law Partners did not pass this information to MAS or doctors.0
2018-05-07 (2018-05-01?)not foundPotts asking for a list of treating doctorsItem 90
2018-05-10SentEmail with Steve Sutton contacts and suggesting that Sutton can write a report.Item 170
2018-05-15 08:32ReceivedConfirmation that Steve Sutton contacts received, but she will ask only for the clinical notes.Item 170
2018-05-15 17:54SentSigned Authority to Release Information.Items 4, 8, 90
2018-05-31ReceivedNote about an appointment with Potts and Pryde.Item 250
2018-06-05 2018-06-06SentFilled Medicare service forms and unanswered question about it.Item 80
2018-06-11SentList of household tasks Juste helps me with.Items 18, 28, 33. Law Partners did not pass this information to MAS or doctors.0
2018-06-14ReceivedRequest for information about loss of income.Item 18.0
2018-06-17SentQuestion about medical dental treatment and information about effects on drop of hygiene.Intended for items 27, 28, 32, 33. Low partners did not create following items and failed to include in others.0
2018-06-18ReceivedShort reply to question about medical dental treatment to keep records.Intended for items 27, 28, 32, 33. Low partners did not create following items and failed to include in others.0
2018-07-05 (duplicate on 2018-07-10)ReceivedNote about appointment with Dr Khan.Item 33.0
2018-07-09-there were no emails on this day0
2018-07-10 (duplicate of 2018-07-05)ReceivedNote about appointment with Dr Khan.Item 33.0
2018-07-18Sent, ReceivedNotice and reply about traveling overseas for a month.It does not require actions listed in contract (drafting, reviewing and finalizing).0
2018-07-19-there were no emails on this day0
2018-07-26-there were no emails on this day0
2018-08-03Sent, ReceivedQuestion: should psychologist Sutton send his clinical notes to QBE. Answer: Potts will have a look at it.Item 170
2018-09-04Sent, ReceivedSimple question about including dental treatment in economic loss. Answer: to provide more info and if there was damage sustained during the injury.Items 18, 32. It was not included in one and another was not prepared. This also was a simple question, that did not require actions listed for G category.0
2018-10-02 (2018-07-05, 2018-07-10)ReceivedTime change for appointment with Dr KhanItem 330
2018-10-04-there were no emails on this day0
2018-10-11 (2018-07-05, 2018-07-10, 2018-10-02)SentReply to time change for appointment with Dr KhanItem 330
2018-11-26ReceivedAsking for contacts supplied on 2018-09-04.Intended for items 18, 27, 28, 32, 33. Low partners did not create following items and failed to include in others.0
2018-11-29SentRe to 2018-11-26. Info on dental treatment.Intended for items 18, 27, 28, 32, 33. Low partners did not create following items and failed to include in others.0
2018-12-17-there were no emails on this day0
2019-01-08ReceivedLetter from Pryde saying that he had a look at clinical notes and Dr Khan report.Items 17, 25, 330
2019-01-17 (email date 2019-01-14)ReceivedNote about appointment with Dr Roberts.Item 330
2019-03-09SentMedicare form.Item 8.0
2019-03-12ReceivedRe Medicare form.Item 8.0
2019-03-16Sent, ReceivedList of GP visited before injury and confirmation of email received.Item 8, 9.0
2019-03-18SentInforming about upcoming travel overseas.It does not require actions listed in contract (drafting, reviewing and finalising).0
2019-03-25-there were no emails on this day0
2019-03-29 (email received at 2019-03-28)ReceivedCopy of Dr Roberts report.Item 33.0
               Total $0.

Left to review: 3/04/19 (x2), 17/04/19 (x2), 18/04/18 (x4), 21/04/19, 22/04/19(x2), 23/04/19, 24/04/19, 28/04/19, 29/04/19 (x5), 30/04/19 (x4), 2/05/19, 22/05/19 (x2), 8/07/19, 9/07/19 (x3), 11/07/19, 18/07/19 (x2), 20/08/19, 26/08/19, 25/09/19, 30/809/19, 1/10/19 (x2), 2/10/19 (x2), 3/10/19 (x2), 4/10/19, 8/10/19, 14/10/19, 17/10/19, 24/10/19 (x2), 27/10/19, 25/10/19, 27/10/19 (x2), 28/10/19, 29/10/19 (x2), 30/10/19, 4/11/19, 6/11/19, 9/12/19, 17/12/19, 19/12/19 (x2), 26/12/19, 8/01/20, 9/01/20, 20/01/20, 4/02/20, 5/02/20, 2/03/20, 3/03/20, 17/03/20, 18/03/20, 20/03/20, 14/04/20, 23/04/20 (x2), 24/04/20, 28/04/20 (x2), 29/04/20 (x2), 6/05/20 (x3), 7/05/20 (x3), 8/05/20 (x3), 11/05/20

Analysis

I had a look at 34 general communication items. None of them should have been charge based on the contract:

  1. 7 have no correspondence;
  2. 6 were just notifications of appointment, for notification of appointment with Dr Khan they charge 4 times;
  3. The rest are part of tasks performed for other items.

Sum

In summary after the table Law Partners wrote: 

 PROFESSIONAL COSTS            $130,490.00
 GST                           $13,049.00
 PROFESSIONAL COSTS (incl GST) $145,539.00

It should be $143,539.00. They are charging $2000.00 too much.

Disbursements

Incorrectly calculated disbursements
Date Name Bill sum Paid receipt sum Receipt GST
2018-09-05 CP – clinical notes 93.64 103 9.36
2018-09-05 FP – clinical notes 313.64 345 31
2018-06-13 RP – clinical notes 30 33 3
2018-07-31 FP – clinical notes 57 62.7 5.7
2018-08-15 SS – clinical notes 35 35 0
2018-12-28 SK – medical report fee 1605.01 1765.51 160.5
2019-02-19 JW – clinical notes 54.55 60 0
2019-02-27 JR – medical report fee 1640 1804 164
2020-09-01 SS – medical report fee 750 750 0
2020-06-05 Mr Ken Pryde – counsel fees 25300 26620 2420
Total 29878.84 31578.21 2793.56

Emotional impact

Exaggeration of the cost by Law Partners goes beyond any expectations. I would never expect that lawyers would do such thing so brutally (I believe that correctness of costs is protected by law somehow). They double charge for most of the activities (that I have checked so far) even if it can be proven to be wrong by checking the contract. However, it feels that they seem so convinced that they will get away with it that they do not bother about it. Such activity (I believe is criminal, but again I am not a lawyer, and I will try to find it out) might seem strange, but you have to take into account that they know that I have PTSD and I am not able to deal with these things. Anything related to injury causes panic attacks and my brain shutting down. I was re-traumatized by this injustice. I think that was exactly their purpose. This is why they went to such absurd false claims. I will not be able to defend myself if they manage to cause me to be completely overwhelmed and not be able to cope. And their plan worked. They did cause significant damage. I am going through their bill only after 3 years of intense therapy and still struggling to cope with it. Unfortunately, I have spent several months just on this bill as it is so unfair and stressful. I am stuck with it: cannot get it out of my mind and cannot deal with it. I hope to figure it out one day. I will write about my experience.

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