What Can I Do if a Large National Law Firm Drops My Case?

What Can I Do if a Large National Law Firm Drops My Case?

A Guide for New York City Accident Victims After Morgan & Morgan or Another Big Firm Walks Away

Greenstein & Pittari, LLP – New York City Personal Injury Trial Lawyers
Serving accident victims in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island

Hiring a lawyer after a serious accident in New York City is an act of trust. You expect a professional to protect your rights while you focus on medical treatment, rent, and supporting your family.

So when a large national law firm like Morgan & Morgan suddenly:

• Sends you an email saying it is closing your file
• Mails you a withdrawal letter
• Stops returning your calls

It can feel like the ground disappeared under you.

You may be asking yourself:

• Do I still have a case?
• Did I do something wrong?
• Will any New York City personal injury lawyer take my case now?

Here is the truth:

When a prominent national law firm drops your case, it does not automatically mean your case is weak or worthless.

Most of the time, it means your case does not fit that firm’s business model, not that you have no rights under New York law.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, our NYC accident lawyers regularly help people whose cases were dropped or rejected by large national firms. Our job is to listen, review what happened, and give you precise, honest guidance, not send you into a call center maze.

Step One: Do Not Give Up – Talk To a New York City Personal Injury Lawyer Immediately

Every personal injury case in New York is controlled by strict deadlines called statutes of limitations. Many cases also have special notice requirements, especially when the case involves:

• The City of New York
• The NYPD or FDNY
• The MTA, NYCTA, or other transit agencies
• NYCHA, DOE, or other public authorities

If you miss these deadlines, a New York court can refuse to hear your case, even if your injuries are severe and even if a prominent national law firm mishandled your file.

If Morgan & Morgan or another large national firm has dropped your case, the most important thing you can do is:

Please reach out to an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Time lost after a firm withdraws can be the difference between a viable case and a claim that is legally barred.

Free Second Opinion For New York City Accident Victims

If a national firm like Morgan & Morgan has dropped or rejected your case, call Greenstein & Pittari, LLP at 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) or contact us online for a free consultation.

During your free NYC case review, we will:

• Examine what the prior firm did and did not do
• Analyze your deadlines under New York law
• Give you a direct answer about whether your case can still move forward

You pay no fee to talk to us and no legal fee unless we recover money for you.

Do I Still Have a Case If Morgan & Morgan or Another National Firm Withdrew?

In many situations, yes, you may still have a strong New York City personal injury case.

Large national law firms run on:

• Massive television, billboard, and digital advertising
• Very high case volume across multiple states
• Strict internal rules about minimum settlement values and profit margins

When your case no longer fits their internal criteria, they may drop it even though your claim is completely valid under New York law.

That does not mean:

• Your injuries do not matter
• The other party was not negligent
• No NYC accident lawyer will help you

It means you now have an opportunity to work with a New York City-based personal injury trial firm that:

• Practises in NYC courts every day
• Understands local judges, juries, and insurance carriers
• Is willing to dig into the evidence instead of just scanning a spreadsheet

Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Legally Drop My Case?

Yes. Under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, a personal injury lawyer may withdraw from a case in certain situations and must withdraw in others. However, some rules protect you.

Before a Lawsuit Is Filed (Pre-Litigation)

This is where many big firms quietly close files.

• They can usually stop representing you by sending you a notice
• They should tell you clearly that they are no longer your attorney
• You are free to retain a new New York City accident lawyer immediately

After a Lawsuit Is Filed (Post Litigation)

Once your case is in court, a judge supervises the withdrawal.

• The attorney must ask the court for permission to withdraw
• The judge reviews the reasons and considers whether withdrawal will unfairly harm you
• The court usually allows you time to find new counsel
• The lawyer must provide your file so the case can continue

A law firm may withdraw, but it may not disappear without notice.

Why Do Large National Firms Drop or Reject New York City Accident Cases?

Every case is different, but specific business patterns recur across national personal injury practices.

1. Volume Over Individual Attention

High-volume firms are built to process thousands of cases. Their model often includes:

• Large advertising budgets to generate constant new leads
• Fast intake screening focused on quick yes or no decisions
• Concentrating time and money on a small percentage of very high-value cases

We understand that your New York City case is critical to your family, but it is not a multi-million-dollar case on paper. It may not fit their business model, even if it is absolutely valid under New York law.

2. Perceived Problems Proving Fault

Some firms drop cases when they believe proving liability will be too difficult. This might happen when:

• Witnesses give conflicting statements
• A witness or report blames you
• The accident happened quickly in a busy NYC intersection or construction site
• A police report is missing or incomplete

However, “difficult” is not the same as “impossible.”

A New York City personal injury lawyer who is willing to investigate can:

• Locate additional witnesses
• Obtain surveillance videos from nearby buildings or businesses
• Analyze traffic patterns, building codes, and Labor Law protections
• Retain experts in accident reconstruction, engineering, or safety

What a national firm calls a “weak case” may simply be a case that requires more work than they are willing to invest.

3. “Not Enough” Damages For Their Internal Targets

National firms often focus on cases that appear to offer substantial projected settlements. They may reject or drop a case if they believe:

• Your medical bills and wage loss look “too low.”
• Your long-term injuries are not yet fully documented
• The expected settlement does not fit their financial filters

That decision is about their business, not your dignity.

In real life, an injury that costs you months of work and leaves you in constant pain is a significant loss, even if a national firm does not see seven-figure potential. At Greenstein & Pittari, we understand that New York families rely on fair compensation to pay rent, support children, and move forward.

4. Insurance and Asset Concerns

Some cases are turned down because the at-fault party appears to have:

• No insurance
• Only minimum policy limits
• No obvious assets

A careful New York City personal injury attorney can sometimes identify additional sources of recovery, including:

• A vehicle owner, employer, or commercial entity that shares responsibility
• Underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy
• A building owner, management company, or security company that violated NYC safety rules
• General contractors and subcontractors under the New York Labor Law

A national intake team may not have the time or local knowledge to explore these possibilities.

5. Conflicts of Interest And Ethical Issues

A firm may be required to withdraw if:

• It previously represented the defendant, a co-defendant, or a key witness
• It has a financial or business relationship that conflicts with your interests
• It believes you are asking the firm to hide evidence or present false information
• The attorney-client relationship has broken down beyond repair

In these situations, withdrawal may be the right decision, but that does not mean your underlying case is invalid. You need conflict-free representation.

6. When A Case Truly Cannot Go Forward

Sometimes a firm is correct that a case is not legally viable. For example:

• Reliable evidence shows no negligent party caused your injury
• Trustworthy video and witnesses confirm that you alone caused the accident
• Your injuries do not meet New York’s “serious injury” threshold for many motor vehicle cases
• The statute of limitations has clearly expired, and no exception applies

Even then, you would actually deserve a clear explanation and the opportunity to seek a second opinion to confirm.

What To Do Immediately If A Large National Firm Drops Your Case

If you receive a letter, email, or phone call stating that your case is being closed, please take these steps right away.

1. Do Not Ignore It And Do Not Panic

Your case is not automatically dead. However, New York deadlines do not pause just because a law firm has walked away.

Contact a New York City personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so the situation can be evaluated before more time is lost.

2. Request Your Entire Case File

Send an email or letter to the prior firm requesting a complete copy of your file, including:

• Intake forms and your signed retainer agreement
• Police reports, incident reports, and photographs
• Medical records and medical bills
• Emails and letters to and from insurance companies and defense counsel
• Any investigator notes or expert reports
• All pleadings, motions, and court papers if a lawsuit was filed
• Any notes on statutes of limitation or deadlines

Your new lawyer will need these materials to understand what has been done and what still needs to be done.

3. Gather Your Own Evidence And Information

Collect what you personally have, such as:

• Photos and videos from the accident scene and your injuries
• Names and contact information for witnesses
• Emergency room discharge papers
• Medical bills and receipts
• Pay stubs or employer letters showing lost time from work
• Letters, texts, or emails from any insurance company

Please bring these to your consultation with your New York City personal injury lawyer.

4. Make A List Of Deadlines And Important Dates

Look through your paperwork for:

• References to “statute of limitations” dates
• Any Notice of Claim warnings
• Court dates, conferences, mediations, or IMEs

Please write these dates down and bring them to your lawyer so that you can take immediate action if needed.

5. Do Not Sign Anything From An Insurance Company

After a big firm drops you, insurance adjusters may quickly contact you and:

• Offer what sounds like fast cash
• Ask you to sign a release of all claims
• Ask for a recorded statement

You can politely say:

“I am in the process of hiring a new attorney. My lawyer will contact you.”

Then speak with a New York City personal injury attorney before signing anything.

6. Contact A New York City Personal Injury Lawyer Now

You do not have to accept a national firm’s decision as the final word.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we regularly review cases that large firms drop. Our New York City accident lawyers:

• Analyze fault, damages, insurance coverage, and deadlines
• Identify what the prior firm missed or misunderstood
• Give you a clear, respectful assessment
• Step in quickly when there is still a path forward under New York law

Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Why Work With Greenstein & Pittari, LLP After A Big Firm Walks Away?

You do not just need another law office. You need the right New York City personal injury law firm.

NYC Focus, NYC Experience

We represent injured clients in:

• Manhattan
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• The Bronx
• Staten Island

We maintain offices in Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Yonkers, and Nassau County for your convenience.

Our practice includes:

• Car, truck, bus, Uber, Lyft, and motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian knockdowns and bicycle crashes
• Bus, subway, and other MTA-related incidents
• Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents on sidewalks, stairs, and in buildings
• Construction and worksite accidents, including Labor Law sections 240 and 241 cases
• Serious and catastrophic injuries and wrongful death

We know New York City courts, juries, and insurers. We can tailor your case to the realities of this city.

Individual Attention, Not Just A File Number

When you work with Greenstein & Pittari, LLP:

• You are not treated as a marketing statistic
• You deal with a legal team that knows your name and your story
• We explain your options in clear, respectful language
• We take the time to rebuild dropped and rejected cases from the ground up

Contingency Fees: No Fee Unless We Win

We handle New York City personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis:

• No upfront attorney’s fee
• We advance litigation expenses where appropriate
• We only get paid if we recover money for you

If your prior lawyer did work on your case, they may have a lien on future fees. In practice:

• There is usually one total contingency fee
• Law firms share that fee between themselves according to their work
• You do not pay double

We will review your prior retainer, explain the fee structure, and put everything in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When A Large National Law Firm Or Lawyer Drops Your New York City Case

1. Does my case have no value if a big firm drops me?

Not necessarily.

Large national firms often drop cases for reasons that have more to do with their business model than your legal rights, such as:

• Internal profit expectations
• High caseloads and limited staff
• Communication breakdowns
• Fear of tight deadlines

These are firm problems, not proof that you have no case. The only way to know the real strength of your New York City injury claim is to get an independent evaluation from a local personal injury attorney.

2. Do I still have a case if Morgan & Morgan said it had “no merit”?

You might.

“ No merit ” is that firm’s opinion. A New York City trial firm may see things differently.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, our lawyers do not accept another firm’s conclusion at face value. We conduct our own analysis of liability, damages, and legal defenses under New York law.

3. Can I fire my current lawyer and hire Greenstein & Pittari instead?

In most New York personal injury cases, yes.

You have the right to change attorneys. Usually:

• You terminate your current lawyer in writing
• We file a substitution of counsel or other required paperwork with the court
• Any fee or lien issue is handled under New York ethics rules and does not increase your total fee

We can walk you through this process and manage the transition for you.

4. Will I have to pay two sets of legal fees if I switch lawyers?

In a typical contingency fee case, no.

Generally:

• There is one total legal fee, usually a fixed percentage of your recovery as allowed by New York law
• Your former lawyer and your new lawyer may share that fee based on their work
• You do not pay two separate fee percentages

We’ll go over your prior agreement and explain how fees will apply in your case.

5. My prior lawyer said I did not cooperate. Can another firm still represent me?

Possibly.

It depends on what actually happened. There is a big difference between:

• Missing a few phone calls because you work nights, and
• Refusing to answer discovery honestly or repeatedly ignoring court orders

If important deadlines were missed because you did not participate, that may limit what any lawyer can do now. If the issue was primarily a miscommunication and you are now ready to participate fully, a new firm may still be able to help.

We’ll ask you what happened, review the file, and then let you know whether we can move forward together.

6. The prior firm said my case “was not worth it.” What does that mean?

Often, it means the firm believes:

• The case is not profitable enough for them, or
• The expected recovery is too low compared to the time and cost involved

That is a business judgment, not a statement about your character or your pain.

A case that is “small” to a national firm may still be significant to a New York City family trying to pay rent and medical bills. Our NYC personal injury lawyers may view your case very differently, especially if your injuries and losses are severe.

7. What if the statute of limitations is close or may have passed?

This is highly time sensitive.

We will:

• Review all relevant dates, including the accident date, treatment dates, and any prior filings
• Determine which limitations periods apply to your type of case
• Determine whether any tolls, discovery rules, or special provisions might extend the deadline

If the statute of limitations has clearly expired and no exception applies, no law firm can revive the claim. That is why you should contact a New York City personal injury lawyer immediately after you learn that your lawyer is withdrawing.

8. Can I represent myself after my lawyer withdraws?

You can, but in most NYC personal injury cases, it is risky.

Insurance companies and defense lawyers know how to:

• Use procedural rules to their advantage
• Argue that you were mostly or entirely at fault
• Minimize your injuries and future needs
• Push unrepresented people into very low settlements

If your case was complex enough that a large firm once accepted it, it is generally safer to have a New York City accident attorney protecting you.

9. What do you think I should bring to my consultation with Greenstein & Pittari?

Bring anything you have related to your case, including:

• The withdrawal or termination letter from your prior lawyer
• Any court papers or notices you received
• Emails and letters from insurance companies
• Accident reports, incident reports, and photos
• Medical records and bills in your possession
• Pay stubs or documents showing lost wages

If you do not have everything, come anyway. We can help you request the rest and gather it.

10. Will insurance companies treat my case as suspicious because a big firm walked away?

They may try to use it to question the strength of your claim, but that does not decide the outcome.

A strong New York City trial firm can:

• Explain that the prior firm’s withdrawal reflected its business decisions, not the legal merits of your injury claim
• Present the actual evidence of negligence and damages
• Show the insurer that we are prepared to litigate and try the case if they refuse to offer fair compensation

Our focus is on your evidence, your injuries, and your rights under New York law, not on another firm’s internal decisions.

12. What kinds of dropped or rejected cases does Greenstein & Pittari review?

We review many types of New York City personal injury cases, including:

• Car, truck, bus, and motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle crashes
• Uber, Lyft, and rideshare collisions
• Slip and fall and trip and fall incidents on sidewalks, staircases, and in buildings
• Construction accidents involving scaffolds, ladders, and falling objects
• Cases involving NYC agencies and public authorities
• Serious injury and wrongful death cases

If your accident happened in New York City and another lawyer or firm has said “no,” you should still call us for a free second opinion.

Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP For Your New York City Dropped Case?

• Local Harlem office and multiple locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Yonkers, and Nassau County
• No fee unless we win your case – Our Fee Guarantee
• Bilingual services available
• Hundreds of positive client reviews and testimonials
• Top-rated, award-winning injury lawyers, recognized by respected legal rating organizations
• We handle the insurance companies and defense lawyers so you can focus on healing
• We specialize exclusively in personal injury law and have a proven record of results, responsiveness, and relentless advocacy

Our firm motto is:

“Don’t Be a Victim Twice.”

Do not let a large national law firm make you feel like you do not matter. You still have rights and options.

Do Not Be A Victim Twice – Call 1-800-VICTIM2

If a large national law firm like Morgan & Morgan has:

• Dropped your New York City accident case
• Sent you a “we are closing your file” letter
• Stopped returning your calls

You do not have to face the next steps alone.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we help New Yorkers rebuild after serious accidents, including cases where other lawyers have walked away.

• The call is free
• The consultation is free
• You do not pay us unless we are successful

You can call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) today to schedule your confidential consultation with a New York City personal injury lawyer.

You can contact us online 24/7 to get started.

Greenstein & Pittari, LLP
Trusted New York City personal injury trial lawyers
Serving accident victims in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Yonkers, and Nassau County.