Major Flooding In New York Prompts Warning From Consumers’ Rights Lawyer

Recent flooding in upstate New York prompted the state attorney general’s office on June 22, 2017 to offer tips to consumers who want to avoid being scammed by construction contractors. According to local media reports, water levels at Lake Ontario are about two feet higher than they were last June and it has prompted state lawmakers to propose a package of bills designed to help owners of flood-ravaged homes.

Attorney Jeffrey Benjamin, who has successfully represented clients with claims of consumer rights violations, feels the recent move by the New York State Attorney General’s Office is worthy of attention. That’s because Mr. Benjamin has seen first-hand what happens to consumers who are taken for a ride and left stranded by the very same people who promised to help them.

“Far too often, homeowners are pushed to hire contractors without signed documents stating what work will be done and how long it will take,” Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said in a press release. "That means consumers can end up with much larger bills than expected, projects that were never started or completed, or even liens against their homes. Homeowners need to know their rights, and contractors must obey the law.”

According to lawyer Jeffrey Benjamin, members of the public would do well to heed the advice of the New York attorney general. That advice includes asking for proposed project state and completion dates, the work that will be done, the materials expected to be used and the fact that the consumer has a three-day window to cancel the contract.

Mr. Benjamin, whose motto is, “Don’t be a victim. Fight fraud, pursue your legal rights,” encourages people to come forward if they think that they’ve been cheated out of services that were expected to be rendered. A fraudulent inducement case in which Mr. Benjamin achieved a landmark jury verdict illustrates his strong experience and advocacy for his clients. The fact that many of his cases fall under the New York Deceptive Practices Act proves the decades of his skills and background.

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Seek Services of Trial Lawyer Should Your Case Come Before Judge and Jury

Should your personal life and some unfortunate circumstances ever come before judge and jury, then you’re going to be thankful that you took the time to find a skilled trial lawyer. While some attorneys are capable of crafting lawsuits or responding to claims of wrongdoing, not all are able to stand up before the court and thoroughly explain why peers on the jury should side in their client’s favor. It’s this key difference that separates the small-time lawyers from the accomplished ones and attorney Jeffrey Benjamin puts decades of experience and skill behind any case that may go to trial. Below, we offer information that’s bound to make your search for a skilled trial lawyer much more fruitful.

1) Areas of expertise: Many lawyers specialize in different aspects of the law. Some are criminal defense attorneys who are competent at going to bat for those charged with a crime. Others focus on litigation involving consumer fraud, business and commercial litigation as well as real estate and construction disputes. In civil suits such as those, you are best served by a trial lawyer who has argued cases similar to yours.
 2) Information session: To learn more about your potential lawyer’s background, attorney Jeffrey Benjamin suggests arranging a sit-down meeting to discuss your case or possible lawsuit. You’ll be able to more clearly explain the allegations against you or the ones you’d like to make against another person or entity in a lawsuit. Either way, sitting down face-to-face should provide both parties with a better idea of compatibility – especially if you decide to take the case to court.
3) Cost-benefit analysis: Why hire a lawyer with previous trial experience? For starters, it means you’re serious about your case. That likely means the other parties may want to avoid trial and move to quick settlement. With strength, experience and skill in your corner, you maximize your chance of winning in Court.