How to report an unethical lawyer? -

My friends an I were in a car accident about 4 years ago. We received one settlement (3 years ago) from my friends insurance company (PIP). Now, we are still waiting on the second settlement from the guy who was at fault. Everytime that I call the lawyer, he doesnt answer any of my calls and his voicemail is always full. I think that the lawyer has already received the settlement and has run off with the money. Do I have any rights? Should I report him? If so how and why?

Ummm ... have you ever tried seeing him in person? Simply saying you cannot reach him on the phone is a not an adequate reason for jumping to this type of a conclusion, and I can guarantee you if you tell the Bar Association that is all you have done to try and contact him they ll dismiss your complaint. Sure, its annoying not to be able to get someone on the phone, but it just simply isn t enough to prove the conclusion you lawyer has done something wrong. Try writing him emails, and go to his office and ask to see him. If you can prove you have repeatedly tried several direct means of communication with your lawyer and he is unjustly ignoring you then you would have a legitimate reason to complain to the Bar Association in your state. You are also jumping a little too quickly to judge the situation ... lots of conjecture and speculation. You can call the insurance company and ask them about the second settlement. If you can prove it has been sent and your lawyer is unduly keeping payment from you then you certainly have an ethics violation. However, if the settlement has not be sent (as is completely possible) then the only problem here is you jumping to conclusions. Its easy to form a hypothesis but if you actually want to resolve this situation you need proof.

Go to the BAR associations website for your State there should be a section you can report him.

just go to his office. why didn t you manage this more closely over the years? it may be that the 2nd settlement will go to the 1st insurance company anyway (subrogation, the same principle discussed here ad nauseum 2 weeks ago re: walmart/brain damaged woman)