Can anyone help or offer advice on collecting a judgment so that I can have surgery?

[collyer]

I am looking for anyone willing to help me. I was in a motorcycle (trail bike) accident when I was 14 (23 years ago). A couple of kids pulled a rope across the road in front of me and my knee was destroyed. We retained a lawyer to help us recover medical costs and future medical bills as my doctor said I would need a knee replacement later in life. That lawyer allowed the statute of limitations to run out prior to taking the case to court, so at that point our only option was to find a new lawyer to open a malpractice case against the original lawyer. I know that lawyers hate to be involved in cases against other lawyers, but this was the only way we could collect any money. We were not asking for a lot, just enough to cover medical bills, attorney fees, and future medical needs. The first lawyer has so many judgments and complaints against her for the same type of thing. We were awarded a judgment for approximately $35,000 back in 2000 and have not been able to collect on it. Our time frame for collecting is only a couple more years (this judgment took place in New Mexico). I have not been able to find anyone to help me because nobody wants to get involved in a case against another attorney. I don't understand this because had she done what she was supposed to do (what we paid her to do), it would not have come down to this. I am begging anyone who would be willing to help me without any upfront costs, just a portion of the money collected. We have already spent so much money on legal fees that we have not recovered and I can't afford anymore. I am now 37 years old and my knee is starting to give out on me. Surgery is in my near future, and I need to be able to collect something from this judgment to pay for it. Thank you in advance to anyone willing to help or offer any advice. I have never posted here before, and I don't believe I am violating any community guidelines, but I apologize in advance if I am. I just don't know where else to turn.

[archy]

You can refile the judgment which will give you another term of years in which to collect. You should take the judgment and file it as a lien on all property owned by this person, such as vehicles, real estate, etc. You should also try to contact their malpractice insurance carrier - who should have paid the judgment in the first place. New Mexico Legal Aid may be able to help you.