Protecting the Rights of Consumers
For Over 25 Years
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With ECLG
Will there be a charge for reviewing my potential case or documents?
- No, we do not charge anything to consider your case or review the relevant documents.
Do you handle cases on a contingency basis?
- Yes, the majority of cases we accept are handled on a contingency basis. However, we do sometimes defend collection cases and foreclosures, and in those situations we do charge an upfront fee.
How long has your firm been in business?
- The firm was founded in 1991 by Daniel Edelman and Cathleen Combs (who has since retired). We have litigated a lot of the key consumer cases in both Illinois state courts and the local federal courts, including the Northern District of Illinois and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
What geographic area do you cover?
- We primarily handle cases in the greater Chicago area, but we will consider cases in other parts of Illinois and Indiana, and we occasionally handle cases in other states with co-counsel.
What do I need to do to have my case considered by the firm?
- You can fill out one of our Contact Us forms directly from our website, or call us at (312) 626-3585. Once we obtain some basic details about your situation, we may ask to review the relevant documents, such as disputes you have submitted on your own behalf, contracts and other documents you have signed, etc. We may need to ask follow up questions to make sure we have all of the relevant details. If your case appears to be one we would consider accepting, we will usually schedule a call with you to discuss the possible case in more detail. We do not charge for such calls.
How long does it normally take for you to make a decision about potential cases?
- We try to get back to people promptly, normally within 2 to 5 business days, but in cases involving a large volume of documents that need to be reviewed and evaluated, it may take longer.
What happens after my case is accepted?
- If we agree to accept your case, we will send you a written authorization/fee agreement to sign. Once you have signed the authorization, we will prepare the necessary legal documents to start your case in the appropriate court or arbitration forum, and send you a draft to review before it is filed. In some situations we may need to send disputes before a case can be filed with a court, or to conduct an investigation to obtain further information to determine if there is a viable case.
Who will handle my case if it is accepted?
- We assign most cases to one partner, one or more associate attorneys and a paralegal. They will keep you informed about the case as it progresses, and you are always free to contact them with any questions you have about your case.
How long will it take to resolve my case?
- Some cases can be resolved in a few months, and other, more complicated cases may take years to reach a final resolution. How long a case takes depends on several factors including: where it is filed, the judge handling the case, how the opponent responds to the case, and what type of case it is. Many cases settle quickly, but others involve extensive motion practice and discovery before they are resolved.