conversation: User (throwawapersonalfina): "Starting off - My girlfriend has lots of debt. She made some bad mistakes when she was younger (opened lots of credit cards, fiscally irresponsible, has about $65k in student loan debt).\nShe is getting herself back on track and has been doing well the last 2-3 years.\n\nShe works for law enforcement and was attempting a physical test to advance to a new position when she tore her ACL. She immediately looked at worker's comp, and 9 months after fighting it in the courts, she won. She scheduled her surgery.\nOne week before her surgery, she received a notice that they were going to appeal the decision. (That she didn't have to take the test)\nShe filed her FMLA paperwork (which was approved) and had the surgery anyways.\n\n2 months later, last week, she received another letter saying that her lawyer never brought anything to court (he claimed he had nothing new to introduce), so the appealing side won. Now she is responsible for everything related to the surgery. (Around $40,000)\n\nTwo days ago she received another letter - because it was a non-compensable injury, the FMLA paperwork is null so she actually took unpaid leave. They want all of their money back from the paychecks they sent out over the duration of her leave. She was set to receive a paycheck today, which she got, and it has the sum of $0.\nShe has bills due tomorrow (from her credit cards and other debts she has been working so hard to pay off) and she has no money. \nAfter each paycheck and her paying all of her bills and not spending frivolously at all (she never goes out, has no luxuries), she has maybe $200 to last her the month to pay for food/groceries/household upkeep/etc. Now they are saying she still owes them 53 hours of work for no pay.\n\nHer parents co-signed on her student loans, so they are having to pick up a payment, and I had to give her $400 just so she could get a brace so she could get back to work. Now I need to give her $500 for her to pay off these bills due tomorrow so they dont overdraft her and put her even further back into debt.\nShe is now trying to sue them again but at the district level.\n\nI have my own future to worry about and I'm doing OK enough to where that money doesn't hurt me, but it's still me having to dip into my savings. I want to do everything I can for her but they keep on taking her money. If they start garnishing her wages she will have nothing to live on at all.\n\nShe can't get a second job because her contract says she can't while working where she is.\nThey are trying to make her take that option, which would require her to quit (meaning she cant get unemployment.)\nI fully expect them to get their money back and immediately fire her (living in Texas, right to work state)\n\nCan you guys help at all??? I hope this is the right subreddit.\n"
  Self: "I really do not understand what you are saying happened with the appeal.  Was her lawyer still representing her in the appeal?  If so, it sounds like malpractice and she could recover damages from him.  However, you didn't give nearly enough details to even have a half formed opinion on the matter.  \n\nAlso, generally a client has to suffer the consequences of bad legal representation.  In rare cases, though, courts will grant mulligans.  Someone should definitely take a look at her legal options, since it sounds like everything is cascading based on the loss in the appellate action."
  