Bail bond companies might appear to provide essential resources to the public, but these companies have quickly built fortunes through business practices that load massive fees onto disadvantaged people and families. Numerous bail bond companies have continually hit people with large bills and accruing interest, demanding payment under the threats of arrest and jail time. […]
Bail bond companies might appear to provide essential resources to the public, but these companies have quickly built fortunes through business practices that load massive fees onto disadvantaged people and families. Numerous bail bond companies have continually hit people with large bills and accruing interest, demanding payment under the threats of arrest and jail time.
Parker Waichman LLP understands the actions of your bail bond company have caused you extreme financial and emotional stresses, and we can help you stand up to the bail bondsman in the face of these injustices. Our attorneys are astounded by the environment of the bail bond industry today, and we are committed to fighting for victims and families affected by bail bond fraud.
Contact our law firm today to discuss your bail bond circumstances with one of our experienced attorneys. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and provide both in-person and over-the-phone attorney meetings to accommodate your schedule.
Bail bonds are supposed to follow a fair and straightforward process. When someone is accused of a crime, a judge overseeing the criminal case will often set a bail amount during an initial hearing. The amount of bail set by the judge will depend on the circumstances of the case. If the defendant is able to post bail, he or she will be released from jail prior to his or her trial. Over the years, the criminal justice system has relied heavily on bail to provide opportunities for pre-trial release balanced against the possibility of defendant flight and community danger.
Many people cannot afford to pay the full amounts of their set bail, however, which is a problem that has become increasingly more prevalent with increased bail use in the criminal system. This is where bail bond companies come into the equation. A defendant who is unable to pay bail can hire a bail bondsman to “guarantee” the bail with the court. This guarantee comes at a fee to the defendant, usually 10 percent of the set bail amount. The bail bondsman’s guarantee then assures the court that the defendant will appear for the next scheduled hearing and that the court can keep the bail (referred to as “forfeited bail”) in the event the defendant goes missing.
The ideal relationship between a bail bondsman and a defendant begins with a bail guarantee and ends when a defendant’s criminal case is closed. During the course of the case, the bail bond company will continue to make sure the defendant complies with court orders by using its recognized power to arrest the defendant and return him or her to jail in the event of “jumped bond,” non-payment, missed court appearances, or illegal activity. As long as the defendant pays the bail bond fee and cooperates with all court orders, he or she should have no issues. Unfortunately, that is not how the bail bond practice has been running.
Commercial bail has ballooned into a $2 billion industry. Companies that were supposed to help disadvantaged defendants have become predatory, payday-lender-style institutions. Their goals are to keep people afraid of jail and keep them paying, even for outlandish services that courts have not ordered.
Countless people have reported being slammed with endless fees well in excess of the agreed-upon percentage of bail. These fees accumulate quickly, and any missed payments result in substantial interest fees. Soon, families find themselves constantly hounded on the phone and in person with continual threats from the bail bondsman to throw the defendant back in jail unless someone pays. People shell out thousands of dollars in up-front costs, accrued fees, and unnecessary services. For instance, people have reported paying enormous fees for ankle monitors when the courts in their cases have not ordered any kind of monitoring.
In addition, many bail bond companies are forcing people to put up their homes and cars as collateral and move to repossess the property without notice after one missed payment. They are also hunting down and jailing defendants who cannot pay their outrageous fees, sometimes when defendants are trying to appear for court. Bail bond companies have unscrupulously thwarted defendants from resolving their cases and moving forward with their lives.
Innocent people often find themselves considering guilty pleas just to end the harassment from their bail bondsmen. But even that might not end the problem. While they are locked up in jail, their families are being harassed for money. And when they get out of jail, the bondsmen still come after them for more money, threatening more jail time, even when their cases are completely over. Trapped in this cycle of payments and jail, people not only lose savings, but also lose housing, jobs, educational opportunities, and valuable relationships.
These practices by bail bonds companies are unlawful and absolutely unacceptable. Bail bondsmen should not be allowed to prey upon people this way, and our firm is stepping up to do something about it.
Parker Waichman LLP is filing lawsuits against bail companies that engage in fraudulent practices. We are taking cases in New York, as well as other jurisdictions, to help victims of unlawful bail schemes receive justice and compensation. People have paid enormous amounts of money to these companies to their extreme detriment, and we are working to get that money back. You have expended enough time, stress, and money wrapped up in this cycle; Allow our firm to take on the battle for you and fight for the legal results you deserve.
Regulatory agencies are not doing anything to stop the abhorrent conduct of bail companies around the country. They say they are too bogged down and do not have enough resources to police the industry. When the system has failed you and your family, our firm will aggressively pursue accountability from the bail companies. Our attorneys will never tell you we do not have time for your case, or we cannot expend further resources protecting your rights. As one of our clients, you are extremely important to us, and your successful case result is our priority.
Our award-winning attorneys have secured more than $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients when they needed justice the most — during some of the most traumatic times of their lives. We recognize the pressures you have been facing and the losses you have sustained, and we will pursue the highest compensation possible for you and your family. We are taking new bail bond fraud cases right now, so contact us today to speak with an attorney about your potential legal claim.
How can you join our bail bond fraud litigation? Parker Waichman has an easy process for new case review, and we will guide you through every step. We know you are looking for assurance about your claim, and we will strive to provide you with the most accurate information as quickly as possible.
1. Contact Our Offices – Your case review will begin with one phone call or message to our offices. We have several office locations in our national firm, but even if you are not close by, we offer phone consultations that accommodate your work and home schedules. Our attorneys will take down some information about your bail bond claim and explain the next steps in your potential case.
2. Allow Us to Investigate – After your case consultation, we will do some investigation of your claim to determine whether we might be able to file a lawsuit on your behalf. Our preliminary investigation will include pursuit of records, receipts, court documents, and other evidence relevant to your claim.
3. Develop a Plan of Action – When we have completed our initial investigation, we will schedule a meeting with you (in-person or over the phone) to discuss our findings and explain your legal options. Together, we will determine the best plan of action moving forward. If we decide to file a lawsuit, our attorneys will immediately begin drafting your complaint for court.
When you work with our firm, you do not have to worry about overwhelming legal issues, paperwork you do not understand, or being completely in the dark about the status of your case. We take client communication and involvement very seriously, and we work to ensure you always feel informed and confident about your case.
Contact us today for additional information about our case intake process and to find the right attorney for your bail bond claim.
If you have been the victim of fraudulent bail bond practices, do not delay in hiring a skilled attorney to investigate your case. All states have statutes of limitations that act as deadlines on filing cases in court. The statute of limitations in your own case depends on many factors, like where you live and the timeline of your case.
Missing your filing deadline can mean you have completely lost the ability to pursue compensation in court. With stakes this high, you cannot waste time initiating your case. An experienced and knowledgeable lawyer will review your claim to determine the correct filing deadline and will continue monitoring that deadline to ensure your rights are protected. Call Parker Waichman’s bail bond fraud lawyers today to receive a timely case review and to learn more about your statute of limitations.
At Parker Waichman, we understand one of the biggest barriers between families and civil justice is financial stress. Particularly when you have already lost so much money to your bail bondsman, you might feel like hiring a lawyer is out of the question. Let us assure you it is not.
Our attorneys offer completely free consultations, and we only contract cases using contingency fees. A contingency fee basis means that you pay nothing up front, and you never receive bills from our firm. Our legal fees and expenses are dependent on your recovery, so if you do not receive an award for your claim, you will not owe us a cent. This is true regardless of the time and resources we have put into your case.
Parker Waichman delivers superior representation to our clients, and we consider your peace of mind as part of our professional responsibilities. To begin working with our nationally recognized lawyers under a no-risk agreement, simply contact our offices.
If you or a loved one fell victim to bail bond fraud, contact Parker Waichman LLP today. Our dedicated lawyers are prepared to uncover the truth and fight for the justice you deserve, beginning with a free initial consultation. To take advantage of our free bail bond fraud lawsuit consultation offer, call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529), or send us a message through our live chat feature or our online contact form.
