Very BAD experience for Accident claim, Can the Public Trustee decide the legal fee for a car accident?

[Koh]

* The following below has been posted in the Public Trustee google review as to highlight to the Authority to look into the matter seriously and also appeal the Ministry Of Law to come out with a new system to protect the public(victim) interest for car accident in future but unfortunately google had some restrictions in posting and some attached file(s) cannot be seen. (reasons why I create a blog)   https://caraccidentsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-public-trustee-decide-legal-fee-for.html

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   without prejudice 

 

Can the Public Trustee decide the legal fee for a car accident?

If yes, my 1st lawyer did not do a proper job

1. Made the wrong daily amount claim, which I was accused for cheating and escalating my claim by the Defendant’s Lawyer during the 2nd Hearing.
2. Before my 2nd Hearing start no proper handover of documents by the 1st lawyer and my present lawyer have to walk to his office from the State Court to pick up the documents
3. Threaten me the plaintiff (his client) hours before the 1st Hearing start

My present lawyer did not do a good job (never check the mistake “wrong daily claim amount” by the 1st lawyer, when takeover my case for months) that lead me and my spouse as non‐party to unnecessary stress. Can I complaint and pay lesser for their legal fees?

This case was delayed by Defendant's side for almost 6 years. Defendant's tried to "find fault and play dirty" and accused me on the 2nd Hearing that I escalated the daily claim amount and said I tried to cheat! My case was handled by the 1st lawyer which is specialist in car accident claim that the Motorsport company boss insist that I have to go to him as my bike was only a few weeks old and I’m still serving the installment with his company. As an accident claim specialist lawyer, he is the one that work out all the claim amount from the relevant documents I passed to him and there is no way I could escalate the claim amount!

I managed to browse through all my emails which I correspond with the 1st lawyer firm earlier and find out an email. I did clear my name by showing my present lawyer that I had sent an email to the 1st lawyer informing him "the sales is not accurate” from the data I attached to him but I do not know whether my present lawyer did show it to the Judge and the defendant’s lawyer to clear my name. By right the 1st lawyer should use my yearly IRAS Assessment income for self‐employ claims, which is accurate on my loss of income for my accident claim!

This case is like "Justice Delayed Justice Denied", about 5 years ago during the MC suit, I was awarded 90% in my favour but the defendant side had not shown any intention to settle my case with any offer and the defendant side is trying to incur more legal fees for this case by delaying it further.

From the evident (my email to the 1st lawyer stated "the sales is not accurate”) which I show it to my present lawyer and the Trustee. If the Defendant's lawyer accused me for cheating and I proved him wrong now. Can he explain or show any evidences:

1. Why he started to make a ridiculous low offered a few hours before the 1st Hearing started and try to confuse me for the Hearing (Is this a grey zone in our law, where Defendant can made last minutes offered to confuse the plaintiff?)
2. Why is it so coincident that my first lawyer tried to threaten me till the Hearing start, for not to proceed for the 1st Hearing after Defendant’s made an offered?
3. Is there any special arrangement discussed between the two lawyers before the 1st Hearing starts, which I'm not aware of?

 

*During the 1st Hearing the Defendant's lawyer was also not prepared for his cross examine questions and he was late during the Hearing time! The cross examine questions was last minutes plan and my 1st lawyer did not even object on it! (All these was recorded in the State Court Hearing video)

As a plaintiff (victim) of this accident claim, in order not to end up having to pay for much higher legal costs out of my pocket. I told my present lawyer to counter offer the earlier ridiculous offered made by the Defendant's lawyer on the 1st Hearing date!

I have made a complaint to the State Court as well before the 2nd Hearing due to a direct harassment by the Defendant that contacting my spouse (non‐party) directly without going through my lawyer and also a threaten message through my present lawyer that the Defendant’s mentioned “if I proceed the 2nd Hearing a lot of people will be involved”. I don’t not know whether this is the command practice for these professional lawyers to threaten anyone they like!

If a lawyer bases on my quantum to charge my legal fee that means "the higher I was compensated the higher the legal fee" they will get. So for this case if the lawyer made a mistake for my claim amount, never handle over the proper documents to my present lawyer or present lawyer never went through my documents properly during the takeover that cost me a loss in my compensation and all the unnecessary stress, are they going to be responsible for it?

I strongly believes the Public Trustee will protect the public (victim) interest and to be fair and I appeal the Ministry of Law, to come out with a system to have an option of removing thirty party (outside lawyers) involved in car accident claims, where the plaintiff(victim) can submit directly all their relevant documents to the State Court for the in house admin and lawyer to work out all the claim and directly deal with the insurance company, so that the plaintiff (victim) will not suffered for all the unnecessary stress and further lost in their claims!

As a victims of the accident we already suffered from the injuries and there will be no end future medical consultations. What we want is a fair compensation according to injury claims that’s all. As a layman we knows nothing about accident’s claim and we leave everything to our representing lawyer based on trust but now “how much can we trust the lawyer”?

===============

*Attached pictures are my medical reports which was from a Government’s owned Hospital (TTSH) and these reports are based on years of monitoring and follow up consultations by the same group and team Orthopaedic Doctors, Physio Therapists and Occupation Therapist.. etc in TTSH but the defendant’s side are hesitated to compensate by having their “own appointed private doctor” to opined on the reports after almost 4 years later with only less than half an hour medical review with me by their appointed doctor!

My 110 days of MC on 2016 also shows my honesty that I don’t claim for a living! I personally inform my 1st lawyer that as a self‐employ I can’t afford not to work every day. So I told him which days I’m working so that he will not claim on those days I work! Till date my claim MC is more than 150 days or more. With my loss to close this case, now I have to end up paying even more to all these 3 lawyers for their legal fee!

================

 

Edited December 14, 2021 by Koh

[Koh]

Defendant's lawyer made a last minutes offered few hours before my 1st Hearing date on 28 Oct 2020 at 2.30pm with 14 days validity 

*The following documents request, was advised by my present lawyer when I decided to change a lawyer(after the 1st Hearing). I don't get to see this before the Hearing start! 

(Total 3 copies) 

 

My 1st lawyer email to me what is the amount offered by the Defendant's lawyer on the same date around 11.03 with only 7 days validity and I happened to know this ridiculous low offered around 12:30 to 12:45 where my 1st lawyer don't even explain to me, why the offered was so low. Instead of calm and get this client ready for the Hearing at 14.30, 

he started to give bad remarks and threaten me! 

 

*Above documents already submitted to Public Trustee for investigation.

1. Why he started to make a ridiculous low offered a few hours before the 1st Hearing started and try to confuse me for the Hearing (Is this a grey zone in our law, where Defendant can made last minutes offered to confuse the plaintiff?)
2. Why is it so coincident that my first lawyer tried to threaten me till the Hearing start, for not to proceed for the 1st Hearing after Defendant’s made an offered?
3. Is there any special arrangement discussed between the two lawyers before the 1st Hearing starts, which I'm not aware of?

Edited December 19, 2021 by Koh
add on last remarks

[pinksheep]

Hi Mr Koh,

Thanks for sharing your experience on the forum re: car accident claim. 
I understand the situation being an act of careless driving in 2016 causing serious accident and injury to your person; thereafter in summary the legal proceedings, namely the conduct of the Lawyers involved in the case is not satisfactory. 

Please note that in a legal matter, lawyers cannot 'cross communicate' between each others' clients, i.e, Lawyer representing Client A is strictly not allowed to talk to Client B or their family; communication must strictly be in black and white under Company letterhead and always go through respective Lawyer. I've never seen before such nonsense as spread rumor to client's wife, use gmail to offer private settlement, or even threaten the client outside of Court.

As the basic legal principle of "Client confidentiality" is breached I suggest very clearly reporting this to the Singapore Law Society for their further investigation. 

Please note I do not have current active legal dealings within Singapore and above advise is only goodwill from experience in the industry some time (> 10 yrs) ago from the secretarial perspective. However I do not believe the basic principle of client confidentiality and basic expectations of professionalism from a Lawyer will ever change. 

Hope it helps & feel free to contact me if you ever find above discussion helpful. I understand why your frustration over so many years and the mistreatment of client lead you to create a blog but my suggestion is keep it confidential for the correct governing body to takeover. For sure there will be serious consequences to malpractise.

[Koh]

On 12/19/2021 at 5:52 PM, pinksheep said:

Hi Mr Koh,

Thanks for sharing your experience on the forum re: car accident claim. 
I understand the situation being an act of careless driving in 2016 causing serious accident and injury to your person; thereafter in summary the legal proceedings, namely the conduct of the Lawyers involved in the case is not satisfactory. 

Please note that in a legal matter, lawyers cannot 'cross communicate' between each others' clients, i.e, Lawyer representing Client A is strictly not allowed to talk to Client B or their family; communication must strictly be in black and white under Company letterhead and always go through respective Lawyer. I've never seen before such nonsense as spread rumor to client's wife, use gmail to offer private settlement, or even threaten the client outside of Court.

As the basic legal principle of "Client confidentiality" is breached I suggest very clearly reporting this to the Singapore Law Society for their further investigation. 

Please note I do not have current active legal dealings within Singapore and above advise is only goodwill from experience in the industry some time (> 10 yrs) ago from the secretarial perspective. However I do not believe the basic principle of client confidentiality and basic expectations of professionalism from a Lawyer will ever change. 

Hope it helps & feel free to contact me if you ever find above discussion helpful. I understand why your frustration over so many years and the mistreatment of client lead you to create a blog but my suggestion is keep it confidential for the correct governing body to takeover. For sure there will be serious consequences to malpractise.

Thanks and appreciate for your kind comments.

[Koh]

From The Straits Times 

Law amended to allow 'no win, no fee' agreements between lawyers and clients for certain proceedings

 

PUBLISHED JAN 12, 2022, 7:07 PM SGT

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/law-amended-to-allow-no-win-no-fee-agreements-between-lawyers-and-clients

 

 

What about "lawyer's mistake" that caused their client in losing the actual amount of the accident's claim? 

Are they going to compensate the difference for their client's lost? 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Koh
Add link for the news

[Koh]

Still waiting for the approval and finalization of my claim from Public Trustee is already more than 3 months.

Total delay since the accident started is more than 6 years 2 months(by end Mar. 2022)

I'm still serving the bank loan interest (almost 10k) for the legal fee due to the switching of my representing lawyer and also my spouse (non party) unnecessary extra legal fee! 

 

Thanks for the advised from one of the member of the SingaporeBike.Com , I'm not proceeding to complaint to the Law Society reason is Public Trustee is also under the Ministry of Law, which I already made my feedback to them. The Ministry of Law has all the relevant documents and all these departments is under one roof. The people that work there is also lawyers, they should know whether my case is a malpractices from these lawyers and whether the authority is going to take serious warning to these unethical lawyers is up to them.

 

 

Just wrote to Public Trustee  :15/03/2022 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Koh

[Koh]

CNA News: 

Vanessa Paige Chelvan

20 Apr 2022 12:38PM(Updated: 20 Apr 2022 01:31PM)

Law exam cheats: Law Society to 'carefully' review Bar applications, will object if not satisfied with trainees' suitability

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/law-society-lawsoc-trainee-lawyers-cheat-bar-exam-2635466

[Koh]

Update : 27/4/2022 17:38

 

On 6 April 2020 morning 09:24 Public Trustee’s officer called up to inform me not to write to them again as they are finalizing a last issue with the lawyer(s). When I asked the officer how long must I need to wait, one/ two months later for trustee to conclude this issue? The officer said no need so long, it will takes about 1 week.

Till today is already 21 days gone, checked my letterbox and email NO to reply yet! Will send a reminder to the Trustee again!

Total number of days delay for compensation: 6 years 3 months (by end of April 2022)

Public Trustee investigation delay: Since 10 Dec 2021 (my existing lawyer already submitted all relevant documents to Trustee) till today 27 April 2022 (Total 4 months 17 days delay)

* This matter was brought up to Public Trustee on 06 Nov. 2021.

** For this accident I’m a victim waiting at the traffic light for the pedestrian to cross the road, where suddenly a Comfort taxi collided behind my scooter!

[Koh]

Just wrote to Public Trustee again:12/05/2022 

 

 

Dear Mrs XXXXXXX

Enquiry Ref No. : MA-20211106-0045 dated 06/11/2021, MA-20211118-0381 dated 18/11/2021 & MA-20211210-0274 dated 10/12/2021, MA-20220315-0552 dated 15/03/2022 

On 6 April 2020 morning you called up in the morning, to inform me not to write to you again as your lawyer is finalising a last issue with my lawyer(s) and my case will be concluding soon. When I asked you how long will I need to wait, one or two months more for your side to conclude my issue? You said no need so long, it will takes about 1 week.

As on today 12/5/2022 16:00, is already 1 month 6 days had passed. I checked my letterbox and email no to reply from your side! Your Public Trustee investigation delay since 10 Dec 2021 based on my existing lawyer already submitted all relevant documents to the Trustee till today 12 May 2022 is already a total 5 months 2 days delayed.

As a reminder a total numbers of days delayed for my accident’s compensation will be 6 years 4 months (by end of May 2022). I would be appreciate for your kind reply as soon as possible by written please. Thank you!

 

Regards

Koh 

Dated: 12/5/2022

[Koh]

Update : 26/5/2022

After 2 weeks (14 days ) has gone from the date I wrote to Public Trustee on 12/5/2022, there is still no written reply. I tried to check google the phone number for Public Trustee, to my surprised I saw the it stated " Permanently Close"!

Does anyone knows what happened???

I tried to call up the officer in charge of my case but was told the officer is not available on today and tomorrow but I insisted and requested at least one of the officer from the same department could call me by today and tomorrow. 

 

 

 

This accident's case has been drag and delayed for 6 years 5 months by end May 2022 (Public Trustee delayed the finalization for 5 months 3 weeks till today's date. NO answer!)

 

https://caraccidentsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-public-trustee-decide-legal-fee-for.html

 

 

Edited May 26, 2022 by Koh

[Koh]

31/5/2022

Went to Public Trustee department today, since there is no reply and call from the officer. The officer refuse to meet me in person and instead of called me during that time. She told me to liaise with my solicitor directly if you have any clarification on the status of your claim. Is this sound funny? I’m a victim that complaint to Public Trustee about the lawyers (ex-lawyer, defendant’s lawyer and existing lawyer) on this case and she is telling me to liaise directly with my existing lawyer for, the status that caused me in trouble and loss in my claim?

 

 

Later in the afternoon the officer made a reply email to me:

Dear Mr Koh

We refer to your enquiry received on 12 May 2022 and 26 May 2022.

We have been informed by your solicitor, Mr XXX XXXX XXXX, that they will be providing a reply to the Public Trustee's queries by 31 May 2022.

As you are duly represented by a solicitor in respect of your motor accident claim, please liaise with your solicitor directly if you have any clarification on the status of your claim.

 

Thank you

[Koh]

My reply to Public Trustee 1/6/2022

 

Dear Mrs XXX XXXX XXXX 

Enquiry Ref No. : MA-20211106-0045 dated 06/11/2021, MA-20211118-0381 dated 18/11/2021, MA-20211210-0274 dated 10/12/2021 & MA-20220315-0552 dated 12/5/2022

Your ref:  MA-20220526-0271 - Others- AC 3130/2021C CRM:0329675

Thank you for your kind written reply on dated 31 May 2022 which I finally received yesterday after I made a trip to your department. I appreciate your department that look into my genuine complaint case, in another way I was very disappointed with the way your department handle my case and also pushing and hiding away from a victim without meeting me in person.

Please note I’m a victim that complaint to you (Public Trustee) about the lawyers (ex-lawyer, defendant’s lawyer and existing lawyer) on this case and you are telling me to liaise directly with my existing lawyer for the status that caused me in trouble and loss in my claim, is this sound funny?

Your side wanted me to liaise directly with my lawyer but all this while, what is the procedure your Public Trustee handle this case I do not know. Till yesterday then I understand from your colleague, your side is only targeting on my existing lawyer on this case. Whereas the other two lawyers had get over it without responsible for what they had done, she mentioned in my phone if they had misconduct I could complain to Law Society!

My main objective that I called you on 26 May 2022 and my visited to your office on 31 May 2022(which you refused to meet me in person) was to know the status of my case and also bring the issue that the Managing Director of my existing lawyer firm had call me on the 26 May 2022 that he had agreed to waives all the legal fee just to close this case which I agreed with it and on the whatsapp messages on 31 May 2022 there are changes in what was mentioned on earlier. 

Please refer to attached files on what was discussed on 26 May 2022 and what I received in my whatsapp on 31 May 2022. From these messages attached, can you tell me should I trust and liaise directly with the lawyer(s) again?  I hope the Public Trustee can be more assertive in the job and should have the authority /power in handle this case.

Please note there is a balance of $1,263.00 still with my existing lawyer after deducting $537.00 from my spouse legal fee, which the Judge order the defendant to me as waste costs for the vacation of the previous AD hearing date of 28 April 2021 and for the delay in filing his applications. This amount was not shown in their 31 May 2022 message to me.

Total files attached 26 May 2022 Whatspp message 5 files, 31 May 2022 Whatspp message 9 files + 2 pdf and 1 Jpeg files (17 files)

                                               

Total numbers of days delayed for my accident’s compensation is 6 years 6 months till today.

Total number of days delayed by Public Trustee to finalised this case 6 months on 3 Jun 2022(This Friday).

Awaiting for your reply.

Regards

Dated: 1/6/2022 (MA-20220601-0054,  01 June 2022 09:25 AM)

https://caraccidentsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-public-trustee-decide-legal-fee-for.html

[Koh]

For netizens at Hardwarezone;

Again I want to stress my "English is no good", I don’t do harm to anyone and I’m a simple person that earn an honest living, most importantly is I don't "CHEAT" and I have the courage to bring out what is really happened to me for everyone to know about it! I believes me and my lover one and kids will be bless without doing anything bad to others! This incident involved Insurance, Car Accident’s Claim, Lawyers’ conduct… which people in Singapore may face it one day.

Today this kind of incident may not happened to you or your very close one or friends but you can't guarantee one day it may happened in future, so don't LOL or give all kinds of funny remarks here! As a kind soul, if you find it hard to understand or too long to read or don't like on what I wrote you can choose to leave this topic anytime, don't criticize or make use of this topic to divert or to promote your personal service…. What we do every day, god is watching-Thank you!

[Koh]

6th Enquire Submissions to Public Trustee 10/6/2022

 

* For this case, why my ex-lawyer and the defendant's lawyer had get over this matter and don't have to responsible for what they did? They are still being paid for their legal fee!

 

Ex-Lawyer: Whom had made a wrong claim amount without my notice and caused me to be blamed and accused by the Defendant's Lawyer that I tried to "CHEAT and escalate the claim amount" during the 2nd Hearing. I was very fortunate that I had the written prove that the amount was not work out by me and with there is remarks stated in the email shows very clearly is the mistake done by the Ex-lawyer!

Threaten his client an hours before Hearing (why so coincident during a short hours after the Defendant's lawyer made a very low offered, he started to threaten and discourage me to proceed for the Hearing?) and in the State Court on the Hearing date where there are all videos recorded in the lift and waiting hall. I show my ex-lawyer the stack of documents I photocopied and intend to complaint to the Judge what happened, he drag me aside and threaten me not to bring up this matter. While waiting for the Hearing he insist that I must made a counter offered to the Defendant's lawyer. With this kind of lawyer and caused in lost in my claim, I still have to pay his legal fee is around $7,900.00.

 

Photocopied receipt for the documents( 1st HEARING started at 2.30pm dated 28 Oct 2020 but the Hearing was delayed to 3pm due to the Defendant's lawyer was later on that day!) 

 

 

 

 

Defendant's Lawyer: Is playing dirty tricks is like "Justice delay Justice denied" and now in return accused me for delaying and claim me legal cost for this case around $3,700.00. All the delayed was kept in the records. Can anyone tell me. If you are the victim of the accident, do you want to delayed in your compensation? 

 

 

Beside Defendant's lawyer shifting new office and this case was transfered to a new legal firm (same lawyer) delay, this is another 2 times delayed by Defendant's lawyer for the Hearing:

 

 

 

** This incident involved Insurance claim, Car Accident’s and Lawyers’ conduct/ malpractice… which people in Singapore may face it one day. My English is NO good but this is a real incident happened to me and I dare to openly published it to the Public.  Hoping the Authority will do something to the Law industry in Singapore to protect the people here especially to victim(s) that dare not speak up and to be fair to those "good lawyer(s)"  but with my experience now I DON"T TRUST ANY LAWYERs!

https://caraccidentsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-public-trustee-decide-legal-fee-for.html

 

Edited June 13, 2022 by Koh
add on last remarks

[Koh]

 

6th Enquire Submissions to Public Trustee 10/6/2022

Dear Mrs XXX XXXX XXXX

Enquiry Ref No. : MA-20211106-0045 dated 06/11/2021, MA-20211118-0381 dated 18/11/2021, MA-20211210-0274 dated 10/12/2021, MA-20220315-0552 dated 12/5/2022 & MA-20220601-0054 dated 01/06/2022

Your ref:  MA-20220526-0271 - Others- AC 3130/2021C CRM:0329675

Till today is already my 6^th enquire submissions to your Public Trustee and this case has been delayed for 6 months 1 week by your side on the decision making to conclude it.

On your last email replied dated 31 May 2022, you want me to liaise with my existing solicitor directly if I had any clarification on the status of my claim and I had explained very clearly in my replied on 1 June 2022 enquire submission with the reasons and the screenshot messages from my solicitor why I don’t trust the lawyer(s).

As a victim that complaint to you (Public Trustee) about the lawyers (ex-lawyer, defendant’s lawyer and existing lawyer) on this case and you are telling me to liaise directly with my existing lawyer for the status that didn’t do a good job in my accident’s claim. This seem to be ridiculous, I complaint to the Authority on my Lawyers and the Authority wants me to get back to these lawyers?  

By now from the Whatsapp screenshots I attached to you on 31 May 2022, you can see it very clearly through my tele conversion and whatsapp messages on 26 May 2022 with the Managing Director from my existing solicitor, he had agreed to “waives off all the legal fee” just to conclude this matter if I accept it but later change his mind on 31 May 2022! May I ask, can I still trust these lawyers and does a lawyer(s) need to “honor his words” for what he said and text to me? Next is my balance of money which the court awarded to me of $1,263.00 is still with them and they have not revert to me with an answer till today.  I had a strong feeling that this lawyer is going to drag on with it like the Defendant’s lawyer does early in this case and later blame it to me for the delayed and claim me for their legal fee again! I was wondering, is there a code of conduct for these lawyers to abide to it as they are taking advantage on the victim that already claim lesser then the actual claims amount. This is like “robbing from the bagger’s bowl”!

I had enough for these lawyers:

1)      Ex-lawyer: didn’t do a proper job that made a wrong claim amount without my notice, didn’t fully hand over all the documents to my existing lawyer when they take over this case and can still threaten me, his client before the Hearing start to discourage me to proceed with the first Hearing without giving any reasons. (Is this a misconduct?)

2)      Defendant’s lawyer: a few hours before Hearing start made an offered and expect me to accept his very low offered, he was late for the first Hearing and didn’t prepared the interrogation questions before the Hearing start (first Hearing was postpone due to him), harass the plaintiff’s spouse (non-party) directly (Is this consider malpractice?) and drag to delayed all my Hearing due to his shifting of new office and a new legal firm that was setup by his existing firm and this case was transferred to the new legal firm. Last minutes before the second Hearing start, threaten me not to proceed with the second Hearing through my existing lawyer, issued 3 court orders and also delayed the payment which the State Court instructed them to pay for these 3 court orders. All these was in the record due to his dirty tricks and he started to claim me in return around $3,700.00 legal fee for the delayed!

3)      Existing Lawyer: didn’t do a good job after taking over the case, without counter checking all the documents and the amount claims to make sure all are in order that lead me to all these unnecessary stress, delayed and loss of actual claim…etc

For this accident’s claim as a victim, it has been delayed for my compensation for 6 years, 6 months and 1 week till today due to the fault from these unethical lawyers! I hope your side as an appointed Authority for Motor Accident Compensation department could made a decision fast and appreciate you could kindly reply to me as soon as possible on the status. Thank-you!

P/S. Attached is the record that the existing solicitor Managing Director call from Whatsapp on 26 May 2022 and he wanted me to make a decision within that day whether I could accept his offer. In the Whatsapp massages on 26 May 2022 show very clearly, I did accept the offered and he did mentioned twice the offered to waive all the legal fee must be agreed by the Public Trustee! 

Regards

Koh

Dated 10/6/2022 (ref MA-20220610-0261 10 June 2022 12:36 PM)

Based on above whatsapp, lawyer willing to waive all legal cost and I accept it. 

(If a lawyer did not do any negligent (mistake) and caused their customer to lose their justified claim, they will not easily agree to waive all the legal fees.)

[Koh]

1/7/2022 is my second time I don't hear from Public Trustee when they mention again that my case will finalized in 1 weeks' time after investigating for 7 months and still no answer! It leaves me no choice but to write to LAW MINISTER K. SHANMUGAM for help. 

[Koh]

 

Mon, 4 Jul 2022 at 17:25 my present lawyer send me an email with the attached of the Public Trustee Letter

 

 

Quote by Public Trustee letter 

 3. We also note that your firm will waive your legal fees.

4. The Public Trustee (“PT”) has considered the matter very carefully. The PT hereby approves:

(a) S&C costs at $7,000.00 (excluding GST, or $7,490 including GST);

(b) S&C disbursements at $ 5,725.20 (including the PT’s fees of $225);

(c) A sum of $7,490.20 to be paid to ex-layer as the balance amount due from your client to them on their Bill No. 3031/22 dated 1 March 2022, to be paid out of the amount of the party-to-party (“P&P”) costs and disbursements paid by the Defendant’s insurer and received by you.

 

 

• On 6th Enquiry Submissions to Public Trustee I had attached the screenshot of my lawyer is willing to waive all their legal fee and I had accept it. Why and for what reason, Public Trustee approved their legal fees?

• If this happened to you how do you feel and is there any Justice in Singapore?

 

• Is it fair for lawyers not to be responsible for their mistake?  

*Even if all the 3 lawyers is going to waive off all their legal fees, it won't be able cover my justifiable claim for this accident claim.    

[Koh]

 

6/7/2022 was advice to highlight this matter to the Law Society as whether they are going to take it seriously to safeguard the people in Singapore is up to them!

 

[Koh]

8/7/2022 found out the upload image was block by "Hardwarezone Forum".

https://caraccidentsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-public-trustee-decide-legal-fee-for.html

https://www.singaporebikes.com/topic/399632-very-bad-experience-for-accident-claim-can-the-public-trustee-decide-the-legal-fee-for-a-car-accident/#comment-5170475

 

 

[Koh]

 

12/7/2022 received an early email from my present lawyer stated below:

Dear Stanley 

Kindly let me hear from you on the email below by 5pm on Wednesday, 13 July. This matter has been going on for a long time now and since the PT has decided, I think it best if we proceed and have the case closed. If I do not hear from you by 5pm on Wednesday, 13 July, I will proceed as directed by the PT. 

Do call me if you wish to discuss. 

Kind regards 

 

My replied in the afternoon:

 

[Koh]

12/7/2022 @ 1342 received an latest email from my present lawyer stated below

 

Hi Stanley

Sure. So we are to wait to hear from the PT on this? Hope to hear from them within this week if there is any further clarification from them. Please check on your side. They seem more responsive to you than to us. Will update you if we do hear from them.

 

Kind regards

 

* I had forward all emails correspondence to Public Trustee, so that they can expedite what was mentioned by Public Trustee called on 6 July 2022.  

Enquiry Submission Confirmation - [MA-20220712-0518] CRM0000001 on 12 July 2022 @ 1520

[Koh]

25/7/2022 wrote to my lawyer, Public Trustee and Law Minister due to delayed by Public Trustee.

Lawyer replied Public Trustee said they will get back to them but DIDN'T! 

Enquiry Submission Confirmation - [MA-20220725-0066] CRM:0000001 dated 25/7/2022

 

Enquiry: To: MS XXXXXX    and Mrs XXXXXXXXXX

Your Ref: AC003130/2021/C

 

I had contacted my lawyer on 20/7/2022 and he replied that your Public Trustee have not get back to them about what you mentioned that they had misunderstood of the waiver of the legal fee in your approval letter date 1/7/2022.

 

As what you called and mentioned 6/7/2022 and 14/7/2022 that the lawyer had misunderstood your approval letter and you will get back to them that the legal fee should be waive. May I know since is just a misunderstood like what you said, Public Trustee could have easily replied to the lawyer immediately and clarify the matter to close this case and why there is still a delay?

 

By end of this month July 2022, is already 8 months of delayed by your Public Trustee that handle this issue. I hope this time your side could replied to me in written on the reason why and I believes your department would not want me to pay a personal visit to LAW MINISTER K. SHANMUGAM at Yishun during the meet the people session and trouble him on this matter.

 

I appreciate your side could expedite this issue as not to hold and drag on it.

 

P/S Attached is the reply from the lawyer for your references.

 

Regards

Koh

 

 

Email to LAW MINISTER K. SHANMUGAM 25/7/2022

[Koh]

27/7/2022 wrote to my present lawyer to check the status and their replied

[Koh]

29 July 2022 Public Trustee Office wrote to me Re: ASSISTANCE FOR MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIM as I had wrote to Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law that I will pay a personal visit to him for help in his meet the people session at Yishun due the delay made by Public Trustee!

 The  PT male officer clarify to me by email on the following clauses:

4. We wish to clarify with you that Present lawyer firm has misunderstood the PT’s position. As stated in a letter from the PTO to Present lawyer firm  dated 1 July 2022: 

(a) the PT had approved the S&C costs at $7,000.00 (excluding GST, or $7,490 including GST) and S&C disbursements at $5,725.20 but there was no mention that these sums were to be paid to Present lawyer firm ;

(b) instead, out of the monies paid to Present lawyer firm  by the defendant’s insurers, Present lawyer firm  is required to make payment of: 

(i) a sum of $7,490.20 to Ex-Lawyer (the sum being the balance of the total bill of $12,990.20, for which you have made partial payment of $5,500.00); and

(ii) a sum of $3,720.90 to the defendant, being the amount of disbursements incurred by the defendant in the case after 28 October 2020 which the court had ordered you to pay, the quantum of which you had agreed with the defendant; and

(c) Present lawyer firm  may seek reimbursement from you the PT’s statutory fee of $225.00 for the PT’s work in the assessment of the S&C costs and S&C disbursements.

29 July 2022 same day Public Trustee female Office whom is in-charge of my case wrote to my Present lawyer firm and explained as follows:-

[Koh]

Almost coming to 7 years, I still did get my accident's compensation! (30 Nov. 2022)

 

Today just submitted my Enquiry to Public Trustee.

 

 

 

Highlighted in LAW MINISTER K. SHANMUGAM Facebook comment, hope this time he can really see it 

 

 

Dear Law Minister K. SHANMUGAM

I'm sorry but it leave me no choice but to drop a few words in your Facebook about my Accident's Claim since January 2016 which I had been highlighted and updated you by emails for number of times to seek your help.

Your Public Trustee took over my complaint for almost 1 year by this coming Dec 2022 and till today I have not get any reply from the PT on when I will received my compensation.

I was wondering can the people in Singapore trust the law here and rely on the Authorities to safeguard us in case something bad happened to us as a victim and layman.

It seem like the Public Trustee did not help much and at the same time, I did highlighted to the Law Society about these lawyers' code of conduct for my case but there seem to be nothing happened  Why is there so many gov law departments where there no actual enforcement/ action taken to safeguard the public?

What if this bad incident happened to you or your love one, are we protected from these unethical and dirty lawyers?

Can the Integrity of the lawyers in Singapore be trusted by the people in Singapore?

Enquiry Ref No. : MA-20221130-0430

Submission Date/Time : 30/11/2022 4:39 PM I had just send another reminder to the PT again today

Ref: AC003130/2021/C

MOTOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING MR KOH XXXX XXXX CRM: 033713