Complaint Review: Kohn Law Firm SC - Milwaukee Wisconsin

I was originally contacted by this law firm several weeks ago, who claimed the represented a medical practice I had never heard of before.  This is not exactly unusual for me, as I am regularly contacted by scam artists attempting to collect on non-existent debts using illegal (and often humorous) coercive techniques straight out of a an old B-rated gangster movie.

I asked the law firm to please send me a copy of whatever bills they claim to be collecting, showing details such as date of services and a detailed explanation of amounts owed, provider names, a letter of authorization to represent said provider, and a brief letter from the law firm on their own letterhead stating they are authorized to represent the provider, signed by a human being.  This has become standard practice for me to insure I am only discussing the issue with an authorized representative (and not a scam artist) before any discussion can continue.

Two weeks ago, I received correspondence from the law firm that failed to meet the aforementioned required information, although it did list the names of multiple providers for a completely different medical group.  Those providers worked for a medical group treating me for multiple injuries sustained while working for my last employer, said injuries resulting in total disability for life.  The services were to be covered under existing Workman's Compensation law in the State of Wisconsin.

None of these providers represented themselves as being employed by or independent of Aurora Medical Group before, during, or after the treatments and services provided by them.  Had they done so, I would have been prohibited by my own attorney from obtaining care from them, due to some obscure requirement that I had to remain within Aurora Medical Group for said treatments and services related to the work injury.  Each of the providers listed worked in facilities owned and operated by Aurora, wore uniforms provided by Aurora, and wore Aurora employee identification on said uniforms.  The original billing statements for those services were provided to my attorney in the matter by Aurora on Aurora letterhead.

Upon request from both opposing counsel representing the insurance carrier (Zurich NA) for any and all records and billing statements directly from Aurora, representatives of Aurora claimed I was not currently, nor ever had been, a patient, nor had I ever received any treatments or services from them.  As a result of that statement, the final settlement of the Workman's Compensation claim did not include payment to Aurora, though all other providers were paid.  Also as a direct result of that particular statement, which I learned of AFTER the case had settled, I determined it would be hazardous to my health to continue with any treatments and services from Aurora, and terminated the doctor-patient (or equivalent) relationships with all Aurora providers.

The period in question is from March 2011 (when I was originally injured) through September 2012, when the case entered settlement arbitration.

I now live below the federal poverty level, and rarely leave my home due to the physical risks and logistic involved.  I am on a fixed income (SSDI), live in subsidized housing due to my disability and income, and my health coverage is through Medicare and Medicaid.  I'm so low income that I qualify for and receive SNAP benefits, which is rare enough for an individual who is unmarried and has no dependent children.

All of this was explained in full detail to Kohn Law Firm on November 6, 2015, in a telephone conversation with them.  I also explained to them that I had no means by which to pay them in part or whole the $10,465 they were demanding be paid in full immediately, due to my disability and resulting fixed low income that is subject to the whims of Congress.

Attorney Vincent R Bauer (WI SB# 1084702), employed by Kohn Law Firm, filed a lawsuit in the State of Wisconsin Circuit Court for Milwaukee County for the full amount, dated November 9, 2015.  The lawsuit was stamped "Filed and Authenticated" by the Clerk of Circuit Court John Barrett on November 11, 2015 (15CV009321).  I was served with a Summons today, November 13, 2015, shortly after noon local time by a very polite and professional process server.

I have had a total of three contacts with this law firm, the original phone call, the written correspondence received, and the call last week.  They have attempted to call me since filing this lawsuit, but due to my physical limitations and related health issues I was unable to answer the phone.

Upon receiving this summons, and reading where they claim to have made multiple demands for payment (they have made precisely one demand, all or nothing immediately, no negotiation possible, not counting the summons), I have blocked any further electronic communications with them.  I did, however, notify them in writing that any further communications between John Law Firm and myself must in the future be writing for my protection.

I already explained everything to Kohn Law Firm representatives in the few brief contacts I've had with them.  I also explained the following:

All of my income derives from SSDI.

I have no assets or real property.

I have no savings, and between $2-$5 in my checking account after all basic bills are paid each month.

I live in subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled.

I receive Medicare Part A, and am required by law to have (and pay for) Medicare Part B

I receive state assistance to pay my Medicare Part D premiums and out of pocket drug costs.

I receive Medicaid assistance due to my disability and income, which I pay 25% of my income for (required).

I receive SNAP food assistance.

I receive in home services throught the Milwaukee County Department of Family Care Services.

Any one of these effectively makes me "judgment-proof" under Wisconsin law, for what I hope are obvious reasons.  Kohn Law Firm, and one would think Attorney Bauer, know this.

I have until December 2, 2015 to file a written answer to the complaint (including the time to learn how exactly to do this, since I can't afford an attorney and the various legal assistance groups won't be able to help for months due to increasingly limited resources).  

It's bad enough I will spend the rest of my life in a nightmare of pain and poverty because my employer decided to not pay $250 to fix the brakes on their tractor trailer I was assigned to drive.  Now I have to deal with predatory debt collectors who managed to somehow pass my state's bar exam that are engaged in what I can only define as an outright abuse of the legal system to punish me for not having the good sense to die when the brakes failed.