What do I do if a case was settled and money was released, but there's still unpaid medical bills w/ signed lien on file?

Hello EM:

We're here to help, but we need facts. Please take a little time to spell out what happened, in detail. Explain stuff, like what "released" means. When I pay a bill I don't "release" money.

excon

Also what's a "signed lien". A lien is registered interest in a property which prevents the property from changing hands unless the lien is satisfied. So a signed lien makes no sense.

I had medical services done. The doctors office agreed to wait for payment once the case was settled. The doctors office had me, as well as, the attorney sign a lien agreement.

The case was settled for quite sometime. The money from the settlement was released (paid out) to the attorney and myself. I received only $300 out of the settlement. The rest went to fees and medical bills. I thought everything was taken care of.

Recently, I received a phone call from the doctors office telling me that their bills are still not paid. They said the attorney told them that I am responsible. Shouldn't my attorney be responsible since he was the person overseeing my case. He was suppose to make sure all medical bills were paid.

What do I do? What CAN I do?

Hello again, EM:

Well, call the attorney up and ask him what's going on.

excon

Ok, What you didn't say, but I'm going to assume, was that these medical services were the result of an accident. That there was a lawsuit involved for damages that included medical costs.

So the doctors agreed to wait for payment until the lawsuit was resolved and to assure payment you signed a lien against that settlement. Is that the story?

Are the docotors saying they didn't get any payment or just not enough? Was all the work they did completed prior to the settlement?

The first thing you need to do is get an accounting from your attorney of how the settlement proceeds were distributed. Also an accounting from the doctor on his bill. By the way, did you have medical insurance coverage at the time?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EMDI1780

I had medical services done. The doctors office agreed to wait for payment once the case was settled. The doctors office had me, as well as, the attorney sign a lien agreement.

The case was settled for quite sometime. The money from the settlement was released (paid out) to the attorney and myself. I received only $300 out of the settlement. The rest went to fees and medical bills. I thought everything was taken care of.

Recently, I received a phone call from the doctors office telling me that their bills are still not paid. They said the attorney told them that I am responsible. Shouldn't my attorney be responsible since he was the person overseeing my case. He was suppose to make sure all medical bills were paid.

What do I do? What CAN I do?

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What were your injuries, what was the gross settlement amount? What state are you in?