10395 I think I need a lawyer?

My partner & I have lived here nearly two years. Approx 6 months ago we decided to have a pool built. My friend knew a woman architect who I was told could help with the paperwork. I explained to the architect, through the help of an interpreter & also in pigeon Italian, that I DEFINITELY only wanted her to get the permission from the commune, & after that I would get a builder I know to build the pool. I said that I did not want her to oversee anything. She agreed & told me it would cost 500 euros. I paid her this. She then gave me a form to sign & I thought that was that. She then started showing me estimates from her associate pool builders & her prices to oversee the job! I soon realized that the drawing she submitted was only a basic child like picture not acceptable to the commune for the works to commence. My builder asked her for a proper technical drawing. At this point she said that if I do not use a builder she recommended who can also do his own technical drawing & use her to oversee the job, then she would withdraw from the project at the commune. So I found a new engineer that was capable of doing the drawing & overseeing the job for 2,000 euros & the work was carried out through to completion. I have recently received various legal threats from the architect that I still owe her the money for the job. I sent her letters explaining she had been paid the 500 Euros & I owe nothing. I have since learned that un be-known to me I had signed the commune form saying that she would oversee the job, even though she knew I did not want that. I received a revised schedule from the man who eventually did the drawing. This was a favour from him, showing what she should be paid, if she had infact been employed to do the work & was later sacked, as this man believed it would be the most a judge would award if I lost a court case. I wrote to her & explained all this & offered her this extra 1,250 euros. She ignored this & I have now received an official court letter saying that she has brought the matter to the court & I have 40 days to defend myself or pay the 2,800 euros she is claiming. I would have liked the opportunity to go to court & explain to the judge the circumstances, but cant speak Italian well enough. I dont even know where the court is or whether a court case date will be given to me? or even the 1st thing about the legal process here. Should I just pay her & hope something very tragic becomes her or does anyone have any better advice? I am reluctant to employ a lawyer & probably throw good money after bad, as I have never had good opinions on lawyers. I guess if there were a good English speaking lawyer that wont put too much more strain on my lagging funds, then I should speak to him. (probably not easy to find) I hope this tale might remind people that no matter how beautiful the place you live, there are always sharks & so called professionals can be the worst.

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Legal

Any possibilty you can edit this into paragraphs to facilitate reading Daniel??? And in the meantime a warm welcome.

Sally, this is someone asking for help and you are worried about paragraphs? Get a grip girl!

Daniel, find a lawyer - and do it quickly - you do only have 40 days to respond. This architect seems to have taken great advantage of you by getting you to sign a form you did not understand. She should be stopped - and there will be a lawyer somewhere in your area who will speak English and be able to help you.

This link may help you Daniel.

[url=http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/when-things-go-wrong/if-you-need-lawyer/]If you need a lawyer[/url]

Sorry about the grammar & paragraph thing. It is getting a bit late in the day.
I found lawyers in UK to be unable to tell you if you had a bad case, normally because they wanted the work. I imagine it will be the same here. But I suppose I either have to pay the woman or try and find a decent lawyer. I have heard some strange things about Italys judicial system & wonder whether this womans father who is ex chief of police, may also somehow help to work against me. I hope I have better experiences with future Italian "proffessionals" & my next post can be a bit more upbeat ( - :

Thanks juliancoll, but they are all too far for me, I am in Porto San Giorgio, & I dont think a lawyer would not want to travel to a court here from great distances. Especially for a small case

Dan, they may be too far, but they are a start to finding someone in your area - try this link

[url=http://www.hg.org/lawfirms/Italy/Porto-San-Giorgio.html]Law Firms Porto San Giorgio, Italy - Porto San Giorgio Attorneys[/url]

or this one??? - [url=http://www.paginegialle.it/pgol/4-lawyers/3-Porto%20San%20Giorgio/l-2]Lawyers Porto San Giorgio | PagineGialle.it[/url]

Hmm - doesn't your link show exactly the same information as the link I posted Sally?

Don't know J+C. Why don't you check. lol Notte.

[quote=Sally Donaldson;96660]Don't know J+C. Why don't you check. lol Notte.[/quote]

Sometimes I wonder if you're all there in the head. lol!!!

Daniel, ignore Sallys playfulness and try this link - he speaks English.

[url=http://www.trovavvocati.it/BARTOLOMEI-Paolo.html]Avvocato BARTOLOMEI Paolo FERMO | Trovavvocati.it[/url]

Try to avoid going to court - i.e. don't accept any advice that you should fight the case - it will cost you more. What you want is to get the lawyer to come to an "agreement" with this mean character who calls herself a professional. Good luck.

Hi Guys
I know of a good english speaking lawyer in Amandola, if that would help......please PM for details .............cheers

Hi there, so sorry to hear your story, but its not the first. Our lawyer, Giovanna Salvucci is english speaking and in our opinion absolutely brilliant.

Her email is [email]gsalvucci@marchelegale.it[/email] Giovanna has offices in civitanova and san ginesio

I can let you have her phone number if you send me an email or pm.

hope this will help

regards
Pam

I've read rapidly and as I'm italian maybe I could misunderstand something, by the way, I'm an italian geometra and I'd like all forum knows that it's quite impossible to have a professional, arch eng or geom, who can submit any paperwork to comune for 500€....if you find someone who offer his/her work for this amount please distrust!
Another little thing....if you need for a DIA or a Permesso di costruire to be submitted to your comune, you HAVE to tell comune that a professional will "direct works" it's called "direttore dei lavori" aka DL, so if no different professional is charge normally this position is covered by the professional who has submitted paperworks to comune.
eyes wide open

Daniel, I'm very sorry to hear about your problem. Obviously, you were mislead from the start. As you have been advised, try to get an out of court settlement.

Many thanks for a great response, I will chew over all the helpful advice, & many thanks for the posts on local Lawyers. Its great to know there is a group here, willing to help & share ideas. All the best.

Please email me on [email]tim@timwills.com[/email] to see if we can help.

Hi
We used an English speaking lawyer in Amandola- Fabio Pucciarelli. It's probably worth giving him a call- he may not consider PSG too far or may be able to recommend an English speaking lawyer in that area.

Can also recommend Fabio Pucciarelli as above.... have his contact details although if you google his name and amandola you will find him.

10395 I think I need a lawyer?

Thanks for the support, anyone know a good lawyer?

I am in Porto San Giorgio, but thanks

great lawyer

A Great Forum

We are near PSG - my wife is a UK lawyer

Lawyer