It's human nature - people who worry about what people will think of them, or worry that they will lose something, are inclined to lie about their current situations. Among lovers, it can be a simple phrase like, "She's just a friend." Social lies, though hurtful, rarely will cost thousands of dollars, and almost never cost a person their career.
People lie, especially when their money is on the line. What happens to those who depend on the honesty of their clients to keep their job?
Attorneys are often the victims of lying clientele. Everyone who has worked in a legal firm has heard of cases where someone insists that they are the victim of a car accident, only for the attorney to find out that they are listed as the defendant and not the prosecutor. In worse cases, people will omit previous injury settlements (along with injuries) during an accident-related lawsuit.
Granted, it's hard to really blame the client. They are worried that no one will accept their case, and they also really do think that they will get a winning verdict if they lie to you. It' s misguided, but it's understandable.
However, the fact that it's understandable doesn't mean it can't seriously damage an attorney's career. If an attorney lies under oath, whether they do it knowingly or not, they can get their license revoked. Moreover, there have been many cases where attorneys have worked tirelessly for hours, spending thousands of dollars in the process, only to find out that their clients omitted information that actually made the entire case completely and totally worthless.
The losses that attorneys endure due to lying clients is staggering. Imagine the following scenarios, and you'll understand why having a client that is dishonest can ruin your career.
· You give the wrong information to the judge, because a client decided to "forget to mention" a previous injury. Your license is revoked immediately after proof comes out that your client had a previous case for that injury.
· A client gives you a case that really sounds too good to be true, and you take it. It seems so open and shut! You work tirelessly, and spend over $20,000 to present a good case. When the day comes, you find out that all of the money that you spent was wasted because the client lied about a critical factor.
· After you have taken the cases of two different clients who have lied to you about major topics, people in the legal circuit in your area no longer take you seriously.
The only way to keep your license, your money, and your reputation intact is to do a background check on both your clients, and the people who you are going to be battling in court. Really, can you risk the consequences of avoiding this step?
Steve Davis
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