Shark Bite

I am a gracious loser most of the time, that is I know when I've been beaten fair and square. However, being tricked or misled, especialy regarding so serious an issue, pisses me off no messure.

The court date I mentioned in my previous post came and went last Tuesday. I arived early and checked in with the clerk. Having never been to court before, I told the clerk that I needed to ask for an extension. That is what I was advised to do by a finacial advisor whom I am none too happy with either at the moment. Well, the clerk told me that I needed to see the lawyer from the collection agency who filed this case in the first place, so I sat and waited. A few minutes later, a young and attractive woman came in and called my name. She introduced herself as a lawyer for the plantiff and led me to a room off the court, where we could talk. I told her that I needed an extension. Durring our conversation, she told me that she couldn't give me an extension but that she was glad that I came and was willing to seek an agreement. She asked about my situation and my employment. She also asked about the financial advisor who gave me advice; looking down at her papers she asked, "Is he a lawyer?" Now the line of work I am in has sharpend my skills at reading body language considerably, and I thought that the way she asked me that question was very odd, as if she had something to hide from me. After that, she told me that she was going to call for a judgment and that I needed to contact her for a post judgement. After she had me sign some paper work, she told me that I was "free to go.".My lack of legal experience and my level of stress had me in a vulnerable state. I took her at her word, and left.

Okay, now I am sure that some of you out there reading this are just itching to tell me all the mistakes I made there that day... "I know" and I don't wish to have them repeted to me again.

You see, today I met with another lawyer to determine if and how I qualified for one of the bankrupcy plans. He told me that I should have simply waited to see the judge and asked him for the continuence. Technicaly, she didn't lie to me, she just let me believe what worked best for her and her case. Such a pretty face for such an ugly person...

Now I did qualify and they are going to help me. Of cource its going to cost me a pretty penny and they can't file anything until it's paid in full. Such irony--you need to have money to get a good loan, and you need money to file bankrupcy. A great system, for a great country.