I don’t know about you, but I had a really crappy, no good, awful day today.
‘Had a client who was unhappy with me, even though from my perspective I had done — or in one case, was in the middle of doing — everything I’d contracted to do in his case.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t buying it and demanded his money back — even though I’d actually done more work than I originally contracted to do.
Yep, even though — even though.
Before I met with him, I had done a little figuring and I knew that I could easily support my case that I’d done and was doing exactly what I promised to do. Months of work and effort, and I was indignant that my client just didn’t understand — he was in my eyes being unreasonable. But I soon realized that no matter what the truth was, the bottom line was that my client was unhappy. Unhappy clients make for unhappy lawyers. Unhappy lawyers make for expensive litigation, which just makes everyone more unhappy. Sad cycle, that.
As it happened, I went to Mass at the Cathedral at lunchtime, perhaps unconsciously seeking a little spiritual consolation and direction. Do you know what today’s gospel reading was? Matthew 5:38-42:
… and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well.
Yep. So i decided not to fight my client. I decided that I’d give him a refund — what’s more a full refund. Ouch, that one’s gonna leave a mark.
Now its generally understood that with litigation, you pays your money and you takes your chances. There are no guarantees. And I’ve lost cases that I thought couldn’t be lost, and won cases that I thought couldn’t be won. But I’ve never been fired in the middle of one before, and I certainly have never been asked to refund the fees I’ve already earned.
But I thought it over and no matter how this one could have ended, neither I nor my client would have been happy. In fact neither one of us will be anyway. Even though he’s getting his money back, I’m not real happy about it.
So maybe there’s a lesson or two here. Maybe the next time, I’ll manage expectations a little better. Maybe I’ll spell out to the client exactly what I’m going to do, and when. Maybe I’ll put more effort into keeping him or her better informed.
And maybe, just maybe, someone who’s not sure about hiring a lawyer will read this post, and say to themselves “There’s a guy I can trust my case with — a guy who really cares about doing the right thing, even if it stings.”
Ben Callicoat
918 409-2462
fbcallicoat@tulsabklaw.com
