CLIENT LEGAL MALPRACTICE INTERVIEW FORM

Once you have completed this form you can submit this information to us by mail, email or fax.  If you have any questions please call 

BENNETT LAW FIRM
515 Louisiana, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 225-6000
Facsimile:  (713) 225-6001
contactus@bennettlawfirm.com

Notice To Client: All the information you will provide is confidential. It will not be shown or revealed to anyone without your permission. If you need more space for any answer please write on the back of the attached sheets. Our ability to help with your case will depend on how truthful and complete you are in answering all the questions. If we do decide to take your case and represent you, you will have to sign an attorney employment contract that will set-forth the terms of our engagement. It is only after we have reviewed with you the Interview Form and the Employment Agreement has been signed, we can start working on your case. We believe the problem you had with your former attorney requires serious attention. This is the reason we have such a long form because we believe your case deserves the time and attention to find out what happened. Please help yourself by taking the time to be as complete as possible.

Name: __________________________     Date of Interview: __________________________

Address:_________________________    Date of Occurrence:________________________
                                                                     (What Went Wrong)

Referred by:________________________________________________________________

E-Mail: ____________________________________________________________________

Telephone: (HOME) _______________________   (WORK) _________________________

1.     PERSONAL DATA

A.     DATE OF BIRTH: ___________________________     (AGE:____)

B.     CHILDREN:___________________________________________________________

C.     EDUCATION:__________________________________________________________

D.     EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:________________________________________________

E.     CLAIMS HISTORY (Injury, Discrimination, or Unemployment):____________________

F.     MARITAL HISTORY:_____________________________________________________

G.     PRIOR ARRESTS OR CONVICTIONS 
(In any State or Federal Court, include misdemeanors and DWIs):_____________________

2.     DEFENDANT ATTORNEY (Your Former Attorney)

A. NAME:_________________________________________________________________

B. LAW FIRM:_____________________________________________________________

C. ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________

D. APPROXIMATE AGE:_____________________________________________________

E. SPECIALTY:____________________________________________________________

F. BOARD CERTIFIED:_____________________________________________________

3.     DETAILS OF CASE (Why You Hired Your Former Attorney)

A. TYPE OF CASE:________________________________________________________

B. DATE OF ACCIDENT/OCCURRENCE:______________________________________

4.     OUTCOME OF CASE

A. HOW CONCLUDED OR RESOLVED:_______________________________________

B. PRESENT STATUS OF CASE:_____________________________________________

5.     STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

A. BEGINNING DATE OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP (When you First hired attorney): _________________________________________________________________________

B. ENDING DATE OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP (No Further Work): _________________________________________________________________________

C. DATE OR PERIOD DURING WHICH WRONGFUL CONDUCT OCCURRED:________

D. DATE LEGAL INJURY SUSTAINED 
(When you thought you lost something of value because of Your former attorney):________

E. DATE, NATURE, AND EXTENT OF DAMAGES ASCERTAINED OR ASSESSED: _________________________________________________________________________

F. DATE WRONGFUL CONDUCT DISCOVERED:________________________________

G. WHAT FORMER ATTORNEY DID, IF ANYTHING: 
(i) to Conceal His Wrongful Conduct ____________________________________________ 
(ii) to Induce Plaintiff to Postpone Filing Suit:______________________________________

H. EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE WITH REASONABLE DILIGENCE 
DISCOVERED THE WRONGFUL CONDUCT EARLIER (you should have known better): __________________________________________________________________________

I. DTPA Violation (TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. § 17.56A):_________________________
(date false, misleading or deceptive act or practice occurred):_________________________

6. HISTORY OF CASE (The reason your hired your attorney)

A. HOW DID ATTORNEY FIRST COME TO YOUR ATTENTION:_____________________

B. DID YOU GET A LETTER OR BROCHURE ADVERTISING HIS SERVICES:__________
(Please provide copies of all letters and brochures)

C. WHEN DEFENDANT ATTORNEY FIRST CONSULTED:__________________________

D. WHEN DEFENDANT ATTORNEY RETAINED:__________________________________

E. DATE OF CONTRACT WITH ATTORNEY:_____________________________________

F. ANY PREVIOUS ATTORNEY HIRED/CONSULTED:______________________________

i. DATE OF CONSULTATION:__________________________________________________

ii. WHY DID NOT TAKE CASE:_________________________________________________

iii. DATE OF HIRING OTHER ATTORNEY:________________________________________

iv. WHY AND HOW TERMINATED:______________________________________________

vi. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH DEFENDANT ATTORNEY 
(Please attach copy of Contract):________________________________________________

vii. DEFENDANT ATTORNEY’S EVALUATION OF CASE AT FIRST CONSULTATION, 
AS EXPRESSED TO CLIENT:__________________________________________________

viii. DID ATTORNEY EVER EXPLAIN HOW HE WOULD WIN CASE FOR YOU 
(give as much detail as possible):_______________________________________________

vix. WHAT REPRESENTATIONS MADE ABOUT COMPETENCE AND SKILL OF 
DEFENDANT BY REFERRING PERSON/ATTORNEY:______________________________

7. WHAT CLIENT CONTENDS THAT DEFENDANT ATTORNEY DID WRONG

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

8. HOW CLIENT WAS DAMAGED BY THE WRONGFUL/NEGLIGENT ACTS OF DEFENDANT ATTORNEY

A. DID THE ATTORNEY TAKE ANY MONEY FROM YOU AND NOT PAY IT BACK? 
(If yes, please explain):__________________________________________________________

B. IN THE APPROPRIATE CASE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECOVERY FOR MENTAL ANGUISH OR PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT WAS CAUSED BY YOUR ATTORNEY. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, OR NON-PHYSICAL DAMAGE YOUR ATTORNEY HAS CAUSED YOU?________________________________________________________________

C. HAVE YOU SOUGHT ANY TREATMENT FOR YOUR MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS TALKING TO A COUNSELOR, PSYCHOLOGIST, PSYCHIATRIST, PRIEST OR MINISTER MEDICATION?________________________________________________________

9. GRIEVANCE PROCESS 

WHETHER RESORTED TO BY CLIENT REGARDING DEFENDANT ATTORNEY
___________________________________________________________________________

A. WHEN:___________________________________________________________________

B. NATURE OF COMPLAINT FILED: _____________________________________________

C. WHETHER HEARING HELD ON COMPLAINT:___________________________________

D. STATUS OF COMPLAINT:___________________________________________________

(Attach Copy of Complaint, Defendant’s Response to Complaint, & any other Documents pertaining to Complaint)

10. OTHER ATTORNEYS & STAFF ASSISTING DEFENDANT ATTORNEY IN 
HANDLING OF CASE

A. ATTORNEY’S NAME:________________________________________________________

i. WHAT PART OF CASE HANDLED OR WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO CASE: _____________

B. LEGAL ASSISTANT’S NAME:__________________________________________________

i. WHAT PART OF CASE HANDLED OR WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO CASE: _____________

ii. WHAT DID THIS PERSON EVER TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR CASE:___________________

C. LEGAL SECRETARY’S NAME:_________________________________________________

i. WHAT PART OF CASE HANDLED OR WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO CASE: ______________

ii. WHAT DID THIS PERSON EVER TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR CASE: ___________________

D. OTHER STAFF ASSISTANT’S NAME:___________________________________________

i. WHAT PART OF CASE HANDLED OR WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO CASE: ______________

ii. WHAT DID THIS PERSON EVER TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR CASE:___________________

E. IDENTITY OF PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON (ATTORNEY OR STAFF) IN DEFENDANT ATTORNEY’S LAW FIRM DURING HANDLING OF CLIENT’S CASE: ____________________

F. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY ATTORNEY OR STAFF WHO LEFT OR QUIT WHILE YOU WERE A CLIENT (Please Give Name:____________________________________________________

11. APPRAISAL OF DEFENDANT ATTORNEY’S GENERAL HANDLING OF CASE ____________________________________________________________________

A. EXPLAIN IN DETAIL HOW ATTORNEY INVESTIGATED THE FACTS OF YOUR CASE: _____________________________________________________________________________

B. WHAT DID YOU TELL YOUR ATTORNEY ABOUT THAT HE FAILED TO CALL OR CONTACT?___________________________________________________________________

C. HOW FREQUENTLY CLIENT SAW DEFENDANT ATTORNEY PERSONALLY AS OPPOSED TO MEMBER OF STAFF:________________________________________________________

D. RETURNED TELEPHONE CALLS:______________________________________________

E. RECEIVED COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE:___________________________________

F. KEPT INFORMED OF STATUS OF CASE:________________________________________

G. ANY CONFERENCES TO DISCUSS STATUS OF CASE OR SETTLEMENT POSSIBILITIES:_______________________________________________________________

H. ATTORNEY APPEARED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH DETAILS OF CASE WHEN CONFERRED WITH CLIENT DURING HANDLING OF CASE:_______________________________________

I. KEPT INFORMED OF DISCOVERY EFFORTS GOING ON AND OUTCOME, INCLUDING COPIES AND DEPOSITIONS:____________________________________________________

J. WERE YOU PREPARED FOR YOUR DEPOSITION:________________________________

K. WAS A FOCUS GROUP OR MOCK TRIAL DONE:_________________________________

12. CLIENTS’ CONDUCT (What you did to help win your case)

A. FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS/REQUESTS OF DEFENDANT ATTORNEY:________________

i. WHAT REQUESTS MADE:_____________________________________________________

ii. PRODUCTION OF CLIENT’S PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS:__________________________

iii. WENT TO OFFICE FOR APPOINTMENTS:_______________________________________

iv. WHAT DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY DEFENDANT ATTORNEY: _________________________

v. GAVE TRUTHFUL RECITATION OF FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES GIVING RISE TO CASE: ____________________________________________________________________________

vi. COMPLIED WITH REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT OF ANY FEES AND EXPENSES:________

13. REPRESENTATIONS BY DEFENDANT ATTORNEY TO CLIENT AT BEGINNING OF CASE 

A. DID YOUR FORMER ATTORNEY EVER TELL YOU HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WOULD MAKE 
ON THIS CASE?________________________________________________________________

B. COMPETENCE TO HANDLE CASE:_____________________________________________

C. EXPERIENCE IN THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF CASE:_______________________________

D. OUTCOME OF SIMILAR CASES HANDLED:_______________________________________

E. PROBABLE OUTCOME OF THIS CASE:__________________________________________

F. PROBABLE TIME TABLE OF THIS CASE:_________________________________________

G. PROBABLE EXPENSES OF CASE:______________________________________________

H. HOW CASE WAS GOING TO BE HANDLED:______________________________________

I. WHO IN FORMER ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WAS GOING TO HANDLE OR ASSIST IN 
CASE:________________________________________________________________________

14. REPRESENTATIONS BY DEFENDANT ATTORNEY TO CLIENT AFTER 
WRONGFUL CONDUCT/ BAD RESULT

A. REASONS GIVEN FOR BAD RESULT:___________________________________________

B. WHEN, WHERE AND HOW EXPRESSED REASONS FOR BAD RESULT:_____________ 

C. WITNESSES TO REPRESENTATIONS:_________________________________________ 

D. RESPONSE OF CLIENT TO SUCH REPRESENTATIONS:__________________________

E. WERE ANY OF THESE REPRESENTATIONS MADE IN WRITING:______________

15. CLIENT’S LITIGATION HISTORY (What other cases or lawsuits)

A. AS PLAINTIFF:_______________________________________________________________

B. AS DEFENDANT:____________________________________________________________

C. IDENTITY OF ATTORNEY IN OTHER LITIGATION:_________________________________

D. OUTCOME OF CASES:_______________________________________________________

16. CLIENT’S HISTORY WITH DEFENDANT ATTORNEY

A. PREVIOUS REPRESENTATION:_______________________________________________

B. NATURE OF CASE:__________________________________________________________

C. OUTCOME OF CASE:________________________________________________________

D. DATE OR PERIOD OF PREVIOUS REPRESENTATION:____________________________

E. SATISFACTION OR DISSATISFACTION WITH PREVIOUS SERVICES:________________ 

17. CLIENT’S HISTORY WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS 

A. NAME:_____________________________________________________________________ 

B. DATE OR PERIOD OF REPRESENTATION:______________________________________ 

C. NATURE OF LEGAL CASE OR MATTER:_________________________________________

D. OUTCOME OF LEGAL MATTERS PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED IN:__________________

E. ANY FAMILY ATTORNEY:______________________________________________________

i. NAME:______________________________________________________________________

ii. LENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP:___________________________________________________

iii. NATURE OF MATTERS HANDLED BY FAMILY ATTORNEY:__________________________

iv. ANY PREVIOUS FAMILY ATTORNEYS:__________________________________________

v. REASON FOR TERMINATION OF RELATIONSHIP:_________________________________

vi. ANY ATTORNEYS IN CLIENT’S FAMILY:_________________________________________

a. NAME AND RELATIONSHIP:___________________________________________________

b. WHETHER CONSULTED IN THIS CASE:_________________________________________

c. WHY NOT CONSULTED IN THIS CASE:__________________________________________

d. WHAT ADVICE GIVEN BY ATTORNEY RELATIVE, IF ANY, ON THIS MATTER:___________

18. ADVICE RECEIVED FROM NON-ATTORNEY THIRD PARTY IN THIS MATTER

A. WHO:_____________________________________________________________________

B. WHEN:____________________________________________________________________

C. WHAT ADVISED:____________________________________________________________

19. WITNESSES TO LEGAL MALPRACTICE EVENT

A. SPOUSE:_________________________________________________________________

B. FRIENDS WHO WENT WITH CLIENT TO SEE FORMER ATTORNEY:________________

C. OPPOSING ATTORNEY (TO FORMER ATTORNEY):______________________________