You could get her a lawyer and start a gofundme page or even just ask Dopers to chip in. I’d chip in for sure.
The MD case search link should give you* some* indication of the nature of the charges. Did it specify anything?
http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/
If it’s a warrant for arrest it’s become a criminal issue. If, per another poster’s suggestion, it was for a traffic citation she would probably not have been able to get her MD car registration renewed so I doubt that.
I think it’s pretty likely they would release her of her own recognizance. Honestly, I get the limited income, but it sounds like she needs to put $1000 on her credit card and get a lawyer. This is exactly the scenario where you need one.
I re-reading this is probably the best course given she has no cash. Having a reporter tag along is also a good idea. it’s a golden human interest story for the metro page.
This whole thing is…very unusual. I’ve practiced law for 21+ years now. In all that time, I have never called a non-client to advise them of an existing warrant. I can think of no legitimate reason I’d do such a thing. Proceed with caution.
That’s a good point. What was the law firm that called this woman about this? Why would they have done so? And I don’t know how well the OP knows the 70-year-old woman in question. Is it possible she is actually guilty of something?
I don’t understand the prior two posts. The OP confirmed that he had looked it up online and the warrant exists.
As for why the law firm would have done that, it doesn’t surprise me at all. Every time I get a traffic ticket I immediately get letters in the mail from two or three law firms offering to represent me. I would assume the law firm which called her up is similarly trying to drum up business.
I’m assuming it’s one of those firms who search through public records and look for things like this. However, there are scammers out there which is why she hung up on them. She got a threatening notice once from an “agency” about an unpaid parking ticket and it was a scam.
That is where I found it. It says she owes the money, it doesn’t say why.
It’s civil, but she didn’t show up. That makes it FTA (Failure To Appear). I don’t understand that part of it either, but the case is listed as civil. The judge ordered a body attachment since she didn’t show up.
I have known her for close to 40 years, if she was guilty of something it would say so in the case file.
Because shady laywer/debt collectors (illegally) say there is a warrant out for you on a debt so proceed with caution.
Because why would an attorney call out of nowhere to inform you of a warrant?
Have you even read the thread?
It’s been noted several times that the warrant has been confirmed on the court’s website.
And the reason an attorney would call you up has also been pointed out a couple of times. Because they want you to hire them to represent you. This is fairly common practice.
Attorney’s out for business routinely send letters to defendants. It’s SOP marketing these days.
Slight adjustment.
It’s fairly common practice in some jurisdictions. And utterly disbarment-level *verboten *in others. Though fewer all the time as US lawyering becomes ever less a profession and ever more a simple fee for service business.
So why was the case dismissed in 2001 and then 2003 for lack of jurisdiction but later the case was not dismissed? Or were these separate cases each time?
I’ve had some adventures in the legal system and been contacted by ambulance chasers on filing day, before the case is even searchable on the docket.
While I’ve never had a warrant, back in my speeding days, every time I’d get a ticket, my parents would find out because of the barrage of letters from ambulance chasers that mentioned something or another about my recent traffic infraction (probably saying exactly what it was) and that I should call them so they can defend me. I can’t imagine they’re any less aggressive for any other case that shows up on the public court system’s website. I’m sure they check them every morning and send out letters/postcards/phone calls a few hours later.
Thank you, that is so nice.
I’ll mention it to her.
Phone calls are the problem, at least in my jurisdiction. I’m not allowed to solicit new clients in person, via telephone, or even via real time electronic chat. Letters and post cards are regulated, but allowable.
I assume you mean you’re not allowed by law, correct (as opposed to a policy put in place by the firm your work for)? But, let’s face it, not everyone follows the law. Debt collectors notoriously (and telemarketers for that matter) break the law left and right, they just count on people to not know or not report them. Just look at the OP, the phone call was simply hung up on. Legal or not, that was the end of it. As far as the firm making the calls, they saw no legal repercussions from it and even if they did, their income may cover the fines as a cost of doing business. I’ve seen at least one case (off the top of my head) where a business (Ma Bell, IIRC) found that it was cheaper to break the law and pay the fine than comply with it and lose business.