Impersonating a lawyer?

I am just filled to sue my landlord for not returning my security deposit and he is claiming he has a lawyer. This lawyer is the biggest criminal lawyer in rochester, ny. He CC him during his email to me with his name@aol.com. No lawyer of this stature would have or use an aol account. I emailed him this:

I understand you are an attorney and I got your name from a friend. Do
you have a contact number or place of business?
________
His response to me::::

To Whom it may concern:
I am Aware of this email address, due to correspondence with my Client!! I can not discuss this matter with you as its a conflict of interest.. We are listed in the Yellow pages under Attorneys, Thank you for the inquiry.

This is sooo not a lawyer's email response. I know you can get into trouble with this sort of thing. He is a big @ss who is making claims, I ddidn't do and just trying to scare me so I won't sue for the money. He just wants to claim it as a "wash."

Any suggestions???

jsmack19

How do you know that is not a lawyer's response?

Why don't you just call the firm like he said from the yellow pages and find out if he really is representing your landlord.

Robin G

Instead of worrying about the legitmacy of your landlord's lawyer, I'd be busy finding one of my own and preparing a case.

CoolRich59

Assuming you filed in small claims court, to a large extent, whether he has an atty or not is really irrelevant. Your claim will be decided on the merits. I suggest you simply proceed with your claim.

Michael C

Talk to your state's bar association.

laughter_every_day

The person is inviting you to call on the phone. Call if you want, or don't, as you wish.
If you are convinced that your landlord is not represented, that wouldn't change anything. As for your assumption on what addresses a lawyer might use, or how a lawyer might communicate, they are unfounded.

Ted

I would just keep the emails as evidence and proceed with your original suit.

Meilien

Why not just go to the lawyer's office and ask them?

gyllenspoon

An attorney would use proper capitalization and grammar, especially "the top criminal attorney in rochester." In my opinion, it's definitely just your landlord trying to intimidate you. You can add punitive damages to your suit, which is money to be paid as punishment for the maliciousness of an action. Assuming you're awarded your deposit back, you could also be awarded more because of the intimidation and impersonation of a lawyer. It is also potentially a criminal matter, and I'd suggest, like the first poster, to contact the bar association on what to do when you suspect someone is impersonating a lawyer in such a manner.

Mommadukes

I work for a lawyer and we have an aol account. The response was exactly what we would have said. Most lawyers are listing in the yellow pages and have e-mail addresses just like everyone else. If your landlord retained him he will not talk to you directly. You landlord may not be playing around. If you want to be sure look up the Lawyer in the yellow pages and see what the firm's e-mail address is.

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