Edward G Topolski, Attorney At Law

Experienced a crazy situation this week. I met with a new client to discuss their case. They had spoken with several other attorneys which was a good idea because when making a decision to retain an attorney it is a good idea to get a few opinions before making the decision on who will represent you. The interesting thing for me was that although they met with several other attorneys and had consultations, it did not seem like they really had any idea at all of what they wou...ld be dealing with in the facts of their case. After a short while they informed me that the attorneys they spoke with spent about fifteen to twenty minutes with them and the focus of the discussion was on how much the attorney fee would cost. Here is a suggestion when interviewing attorneys. Yes interviewing attorneys, Don't forget that the attorney you retain is your employee and works for you. During an initial consultation they should ask you questions about the facts of your case, review any relevant documents and pleadings you provide and really listen to your concerns and really try to get to know you as a person. You should be able to ask them questions that concern you and get answers. A clients is interviewing an attorney to see if they want to hire the attorney and the attorney is interviewing the client to see if they wants to represent the client as well. I guess the bottom line for me is after meeting with the proposed attorney a client should really evaluate and ask themself if they were comfortable talking with the attorney, and most importantly was the attorneyreally interested in getting to know the client and understand the legal problem they have, or more focused on presenting a fee agreement to the client for their signature. and payments. Be careful when interviewing attorneys. Write down any questions you have and take them to your consultation. If you have documents, letters, pleadings that you need explained to you them to the arttorney as well. Don't be afraid to ask about much the attorney will charge you, and whether the attorney will be the person you will be working with or is your file going to handled by one of their legal assistants or paralegals (A bad idea). You want to work with the attorney you hired, not a legal assistant or paralegal. Hope these thoughts help you when you are considering hiring an attorney to represent you in any matter. If you have any other questions or concerns contact me and we'll talk.

I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season! 2016 is almost behind us and now it's time to look forward to a really great 2017. There are many events and things that will occur in 2017 that we have no control over. However, we do control how we interact with others in this world in which we coexist. So, my personal plan/goal is to do the best I can to not judge anyone, treat everyone I come in contact with the utmost in respect, and most importantly be kind to others! Again, have a safe and Happy Holiday Season! Ed Topolski

I was speaking with opposing counsel on one of my cases today and I could just hear the tension in their voice. I was trying to decide how I could get them to agree to a fair and equitable resolution of the claims made by my client against their client. After all that is what my client is paying me do get done. The barrier seemed to be the level of tension they were experiencing which really made them lose focus on the fact that it's not personal, it's just the business of pr...acticing law and representing our clients. So I decided to try something completely random - I asked them if they knew why nurses write with red pens? Of course they said no. I told them nurses write with red pens because they want to draw blood. Well that little riddle broke the tension and we were able to get some issues worked out. The point for me was that while we all take out respective careers seriously, it is important to remember how a little humor goes a long way in lightening the mood and can open lines of communication. See more

As an attorney I am working for clients that have legal issues that create anxiety, frustration and major concern in their lives. After 20+ years of practicing I have learned how the title "Counselor at Law" really impacts clients that trust me to represent their interests. I need to do whatever I can to reduce my client's level of anxiety, frustration and concern each day. After all "To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts".

Plenty of ways to BEAT THE HEAT!! Remember to wear sunscreen and stay hydrated!

Yesterday I was speaking with Opposing Counsel on one of my cases. They contacted me to see if we could negotiate a settlement. As I was listening to them I realized that every other word out of their mouth was pertaining to how bad my client was, how my client caused this litigation, etc. I explained to them that it is difficult to attempt to negotiate a settlement, when they are clearly focused on the "battle of litigation". I told them that the time and place for battle ...is in the courtroom, and if they really want to help their client settle this case, we need to first work together to de-escalate our client''s mutual feeling towards each other and then hopefully clearer heads will prevail and we can reach a fair settlement. I mention this because often when I am contacted by someone and I do not handle the type of case they are involved in, they ask me if I can refer them to another lawyer that might help them. Before I give them a name, I always ask myself if the lawyer is someone who will really listen to the client, focus on the issues, and will they try the best they can to de-escalate the emotions of the case. In the end this helps the client which is the goal, saves the client a lot of money on attorney fees because every battle cost money, and seems to move the case forward towards resolution faster. Of course this does not work with every case, so it is important to prepare for the "battle of litigation" in every case as an alternative.

Have you considered your Estate Plan? It's never too early to plan for the future. Come see us for a free consultation and let us help.

Thought For The Day: Life is like a mirror, reflecting what you do. Look into it smiling and it will smile right back at you!

Somebody asked me yesterday if I enjoyed being a lawyer. I thought about it and realized I've been practicing law in the Inland Empire for over 22 year now. In my career I have represented clients in many different type of cases, such as Bankruptcy, Family Law, Business/Contract Disputes, Forming Corporations, General Civil Litigation, Estate Planning and Personal injury cases. My goal has always been to assist clients in navigating through the legal system, reducing their stress level and obtaining the best result for them and an affordable cost. The bottom line is that if I listen and really communicate with my client, and we work together, it is possible to achieve a great result for them which is why I really enjoy being a lawyer.

Here is a thought for the day for all small business owners like myself: "AS A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON, YOU HAVE NO GREATER LEVERAGE THAN THE TRUTH" John Greenleaf Whittier"

Fraud Alert - It is important to check you credit reports periodically for accuracy. Recently I met someone who's credit report was compromised and their identity was used to acquire many different credit card accounts. Ultimately, this created a situation that forced the victim into a situation where they had to file for bankruptcy protection to rebuild their financial future.