is this legal (attorney related)

My mother had a car accident 6 years ago and the attorney she had really really $ucked. thats neither here or there.
after 6 years of badgering him and asking where the case was standing and never getting a straight answer or getting an answer that was different from what he said a few weeks before, the case finally settled.

anyway.. the case settled in may.. she got a letter from the insurance company paid the settlement. the attorney has the money and disappeared.
seriously disappeared. he wont answer phone calls. there is no one at the office anymore - just an answering machine that says to leave a message.
she has his cell phone which he has off and the message states he does not pick up private calls and does not check his messages regularly and to send a text message.

i have text with no answer back. he finally got back to me 3 weeks ago saying he was on vacation and she should have her settlement check in the mail that week - no later than thursday/friday.
that was over 2 weeks ago.
again he does not answer calls/text messages or return messages.

is this even legal that he has her money and just disappeared? how long should she wait b4 she proceeds with i dont even know WHERE or WHO she should proceed to!

Re: is this legal (attorney related)

First I would send the attorney a certified letter demanding the settlement and outlining the steps you have taken to contact him. I would CC the appropriate New York Grievance Committee and file a complaint.

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/ip/attorneygrievance/complaints.shtml

Message edited 8/16/2011 11:45:41 PM.

Re: is this legal (attorney related)

hubby agrees with previous poster- good luck- how lousy! :(

Re: is this legal (attorney related)

Message edited 3/27/2013 10:01:49 PM.

Re: is this legal (attorney related)

thank you! i had no clue where to go or who to go to. but ill tell her to do this