Heroic Underdogs | Abused Trust Beneficiaries and Heirs

It’s easy to love a winner. And, in its own way it’s easy for a lawyer to represent a winner – the rich – the powerful.

They pay well. They bring prestige – credibility. They may have some powerful allies. That said, our heart is often with the underdog.

Films capture this well. Rudy, thought too small to play college football, overcomes the odds and fulfills his dream of playing for Notre Dame. Rocky, a poor South Philly small-time boxer, gets a chance to fight a heavy-weight champion. Dr. Richard Kimble, “The Fugitive,” unjustly accused of killing his wife, fights against all odds to find the real killer while escaping a nationwide manhunt.

Some of our estate and trust litigation cases might well be title “Against All Odds.” Family members fight to overturn a family member’s trust that was the product of undue influence, theft or fraud. The wrongdoer now has the assets of the deceased family member and hires high-priced lawyers to defend the gains. Challengers often have undersized bank accounts that don’t match their overfunded adversaries.

It looks like the challenge is against all odds. That’s why plaintiffs’ law firms, like Hackard Law, will often work on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee agreements are negotiable and can provide that the clients owe no attorney’s fees until a recovery is obtained.

All trust and estate litigation cases aren’t the same. Time is of the essence.

Hackard Law: for Abused Beneficiaries and Heirs.