Solicitor seeking my client to reimburse his legal fees?

[Agent Shadow]

Presently I am undertaking a workers compensation factual for one of the larger insurance companies.

I interviewed the worker (whom at the time was not legally represented) and obtained a statment, though not adopted as at the end he sought to have the statement reviewed by a lawyer. As such the statement was forwarded to the Worker via email.

A couple of weeks later I received an email from the solicitor advising he acts for the Worker etc.

I follow up today and he advised me he wants my client (the insurer) to reimburse him for his time to review HIS clients statement who instructed him to do so. My response:

"As I understand (WORKER) instructed you to act on his behalf, which you confirmed you are acting for via email on (date).  As such any associated costs regarding your time spent on this matter is between you and your client."

Still the lawyer wants my client to pay...frustrating .. at the end of the day the Worker is suffering in this delay...

My vent...

[BigGeorge]

A.S., I appreciate that you're just venting, but I suppose this is a good example of a situation which the investigator should avoid entirely.

Although by your actions you are seeking to protect your client's interests, it nevertheless prejudices your client's privilege to make his own decision on how to handle this matter. It could, potentially, get out of hand.

I had always made it a rule never to "enter into correspondence" with a solicitor for the subject of investigation except to confirm instructions from my client to investigate or to make an appointment for an interview with his client.

Food for thought  

BigGeorge

[Homer]

AS. I would suggest the lawyer contacts the insurer to sort it out. I handle alot of similar cases and essentially cannot avoid entering into correspondence with claimant's lawyers. Obviously, I can't make any committments or representations etc. The correspondence is normally just logistics of getting statements signed etc, so nothing potentially hazardous in that. BTW - I used to be a claims manager and we never paid lawyers in those circumstances.

[Cabal]

Seems fairly straightforward - the person instructing the solicitor pays their fees. Why the solicitor thinks someone else is liable for those costs is a mystery.