On 2004-02-09 17:15:00, Carey wrote:
"I wrote to Scheff's attorney explaining I needed more time to find an attorney. This is given I live in Louisiana and the case is to be in Florida. They have ignored my request and are attempting to push this case through on a default basis.
I have written to both David Pollack and Paula Reeves, as Reeves is who is cc on all the correspondence that Scheff sends to her attorney, to tell them I am going to fight the case.
"
Carey, contact the Florida Bar Association, tell them you need an attorney to defend you in a defamation suit, and take whomever they refer you to.
The law has little to do with what people perceive as fair. You may perceive it as unfair that they won't give you time, but the judge just won't care. You need to get an attorney who is breathing, 98.6 body temp, and licensed to practice in Florida to go in and protect you from this default judgement---he/she can file all the motions for a continuence, etc. The bar exam ensures basic competence to do things like that.
Forget interviewing for you ideal lawyer and just get someone licensed to get in there----an average lawyer will be able to buy you some breathing room to get your defense heard. Right now, you're in danger of losing without ever being heard.
Writing to their attorneys and telling them your troubles was probably a bad move----they're even more likely now to push as hard as they can to get a default judgement before you can get your act together and fight back.
This isn't time to fuss over whether or not the system is "fair" or "unfair"---this is the time to get a lawyer whose essential qualifications of moving, breathing, and licensed in Florida are enough to go in there and keep your case alive long enough for you to have a fighting chance at a fair trial of that case.
I am not a lawyer, this is not specific legal advice---this is common sense. The Florida Bar Association will give you the contact info for a lawyer who will meet these essential requirements.
You can start with the Orange County (Florida) Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. Bellsouth has the following phone numbers for them:
(407) 422-4537
(407) 422-4551
Alternately, go to this link and look up the bar association in whatever Florida county/city the lawsuit is filed in:
http://yp.bellsouth.com/ypGet a lawyer *today* so he/she can get the information for the case and get in there for you.