EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Clients of an Evansville bankruptcy attorney who died last month are finding out their cases were never filed. They want their money back, but that money may not be on the way.
Attorney Kathryn Peters died in June, but many of her clients had been making hundreds of dollars in payments to have their bankruptcy cases filed in court.
Now, these clients already on hard times say they'll have to come up with hundreds more dollars to have their cases filed by new lawyers. Money they don't have.
For Bridget Scroggins, the bills just keep piling up.
"It's been so hard. I work two jobs, work 60 hours a week. I've hardly seen my kids all summer long," Scroggins said.
The 31-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008 and without insurance couldn't pay her medical bills.
So last year, she hired Attorney Kathryn Peters to file for bankruptcy which wasn't done before Peters' death last month.
"I just want my money back. I've been paying on this for a year and I want them to give my money to my new attorney so he can file it, file the bankruptcy," Scroggins said.
But it's not just Scroggins. Other clients say they're in the same boat.
Doug Briody, the attorney handling Peters' estate says when it comes to refunds, it's too early to tell.
"It's a case by case basis. We don't have all the answers at this point," Briody said. "We can't say at this point what if any money they will see back. What we're trying to do is make sure they receive new representation."
Scroggins has a new attorney and hundreds of dollars in new fees she'll have to pay if she wants to take those first steps to getting out of debt.
"I'm back at step one and all I keep hearing is there is no money. What do you mean there's no money? I've given you a thousand dollars over the past year. Where's that money at?" Scroggins said.
14 News showed Briody the agreement Scroggins signed with Peters' office, but he declined to comment and couldn't tell us if she is entitled to any of that money back.
He says her new attorney should be able to answer those questions for her.
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Attorney Kathryn Peters died in June, but many of her clients had been making hundreds of dollars in payments to have their bankruptcy cases filed in court.
