Send in the bailiffs!

Coffey debt goes to collection

By David Baker
Posted March 4, 2007

At the end of January, a Small Claims Court judge gave Steve Coffey’s law firm 30 days to reimburse me the $300 due to three attorneys representing defendants in Lisa’s wrongful death case against Samaritan Hospital.

The firm, O’Connell & Aronowitz, has not made payment, despite a letter sent Certified Mail demanding settlement of the judgment. This means that I can and will now take steps to enforce payment, which can include seizure of assets from the debtor.

The money, $100 to each of the defending firms, was incurred when Coffey failed to carry out a state Supreme Court judge’s instructions to notify the three attorneys that he was reviewing Lisa's case with a view to taking it over. As a result, each of the firms made a written request to the court to dismiss the case.

The request was denied after I filed an affidavit opposing the defendants’ motions.

As is reported on this page, Coffey’s actions at that time are now the basis of a lawsuit I filed against the attorney and his firm in February. A response to the suit is due by March 14.