Financial Security
In 2012, "Shonda"* underwent a medical procedure at a local hospital. Shonda received Charity Care and believed the bill to be fully covered because she was without employment. Sometime after Shonda's procedure, the hospital filed suit against her, but she never received notice.
Nine years later, in 2021, Shonda was blindsided by a bank levy of $872.86, all the money she had in her checking account at the time. In December 2021, Shonda came to VLJ's Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP) clinic for help. In speaking with Shonda, VLJ learned that the hospital had obtained a default judgment against her years earlier for $4,079.33 and recently filed a motion to turn over funds. VLJ sprung into action and began representing Shonda. VLJ filed a motion to vacate the default judgment that was granted. Then, VLJ filed a motion opposing the levy that was also granted. Once the matter was reopened, in February 2022, VLJ filed an answer to the initial complaint that began the suit in 2012. Doing so allowed Shonda to finally be heard in court.
In March 2022, VLJ filed a request for documents to opposing counsel. The hospital failed to respond by the deadline and requested an extension of time that VLJ granted as a courtesy. Despite the extension, the hospital failed to produce any documents.
Meanwhile, the court scheduled a virtual settlement conference in June 2022. Counsel for the hospital admitted to the court appointed mediator at the settlement conference that no documents would be provided, and no settlement was reached.
Following the settlement conference, VLJ filed a motion to dismiss for failure to respond to discovery requests. The matter was decided on the papers and the judge finally granted an Order for Dismissal Without Prejudice in late July 2022.
Thanks to the hard work of VLJ staff attorneys, Shonda avoided a debt of $5,075.07 and will recover the $872.86 previously seized from her bank account.
*Client's name has been changed to protect and ensure their privacy