Celtic:
I'm guessing that the case he did for you was not on a contingency basis. If it were, his fees would have been capped at a percentage of whatever he recovered.
If it was not on a contingency fee basis, your next best protection may come from contacting the Oregon bar Association and asking to invoke their fee arbitration process. Most state bars will have a service to intervene between you and the lawyer in this matter. (It may be an issue that you agreed under a fee agreement to pay whatever fees were incurred regardless of the outcome, but unless the outcome was substantially less than was expected, he should have given you better guidance in what your prospects of recovery were compared to the costs to proceed.) You may also want to file a complaint against him with the state bar. If it is found to have merit, it may be evidence to your favor if he sues you in an attempt to recover the claimed fees from you.
I hope this has helped. Let me know if you have any followup questions. If none, please remember to click on the ACCEPT link so that I may receive credit for working on this topic with you. (I'd greatly appreciate it!)
Thank you,
Dan
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The information provided is general in nature only and should not be construed as legal advice or to create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult with a lawyer in your state.
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