How to Find an Attorney
Not all Attorneys are Created Equal
My first attorney charged $500 an hour and had never done an AIR21 case before. When I learned of this, after a year into the legal battle, he asserted that the AIR21 law was the same as all others going before an ALJ. He was wrong. He believed I would get “all” my attorney fees back, that was also incorrect. In AIR21 you only get “reasonable” attorney fees, and the reason companies wage a war of attrition. You may win, but you lose, I would agree with anyone asserting that charging $3500 to determine if a bipolar pilot could hold a medical certificate was unreasonable.
Some attorneys told me that I had to wait until I was terminated to file a claim. They, too, were wrong. That actually may have cost me my claim, as I explain in AIR21 Delta’s Debacle. I knew one attorney who held a law degree but he could not write an articulate sentence to save his life. Some don’t listen. Some want to use you for an income source even if you don’t have a case. Others sign you up and delay, delay, delay. Or they have to “research” at your expense. Far too many are not honest.
How I found my attorney was a gift from God.
My Law Professor, Captain John Sable, now retired, called a year after I had taken a class from him to see how my battle with Delta was going. It wasn’t. When I explained what I faced, he said, “Have you called Lee Seham yet?” I had not. But when I did my world changed. This call came out of the blue, at a critical time of indecision. Talking to Lee was exactly what I needed.
What I learned working with Lee was he knew the AIR21 law. This statute is different from any other “whistleblower” law. He explained the law to me. He can articulate his thoughts in a clear and concise manner in a rough draft better than most can do in a final brief. Writing is 90% of this process. He knows case law and was able to call BS on the other attorneys when they used it incorrectly. He was responsive, and never allowed an email to sit in his inbox for a day without a reply. When I needed something, even on the weekends, he was there. He will not take you as a client if you do not have a case. You can be sure you will not go for an expensive ride. He is honest, articulate and spends no money to market himself. He even allows his clients to participate. He allows you to read and edit documents, and work with him to help keep your expenses down. I cannot say enough good things about Lee Seham. He also has great knowledge of labor relations and union contracts better than any ALPA attorney I have ever met. Notwithstanding he once upon a time taught discrimination law.
In AIR21 Delta’s Debacle, Legal Lessons Learned and Shared to Save Your Career and Improve Safety Chapter 12, I discuss how to find an attorney and the things you can do to assess whomever you choose. I also explain how to find an attorney on contingency, and why some attorneys cannot offer that option, but also who can. All attorneys are not created equal. I will give Lee Seham credit for everything I learned and all that I shared with you in the AIR21 book:
A captain read my advice on how to select an attorney, but decided to go directly to Lee Seham.
Endorsement of Lee Seham:
“I contacted Lee Seham after I filed an AIR21 whistle blower complaint through OSHA several months prior. Navigating the process on my own presented immense challenges, though it wasn’t until I received a settlement offer from my previous employer that I had the clear indication I was not taken seriously. And that I needed to seek counsel.
During our first call, Mr. Seham spoke with me at length. After carefully listening to the complexities of my situation, he provided excellent insight and suggestions for moving forward. It was highly evident that he has an in-depth understanding of AIR21, aviation and employment law. On top of all this, he was a very nice person.
What followed over the next few days involved preparing information and documentation for him to review, and to determine how best to move forward.
Mr. Seham wrote a letter to my previous employer tying several of my experiences under their employ to my AIR21 complaint, and citing precedent. This document immediately got their attention, and it was shortly thereafter that a realistic settlement offer came through.
It’s important to mention that after leaving my previous employer I was actively searching for an attorney/law firm that understood AIR21, aviation as a whole, and also employment law. I was unsuccessful as most employment attorneys were not familiar with aviation, and especially not familiar with AIR21. So while approaching the 90 day AIR21 filing deadline through OSHA, I started the process on my own.
I learned of Mr. Seham through my good fortune of reading an article about one of his previous clients and her case against Delta Airlines. Lee Seham represented her, and while she wrote of how to select an attorney, I bypassed her advise and simply contacted the one she spoke so highly of.
For reasons other than my successful outcome, I could not more highly recommend this law firm. They are attentive, kind, honest, and most of all, extremely knowledgeable in the areas they practice law.” Captain N.
Justice
As William Gaddis said, “Justice? You get justice in the next world; in this world you have the law.” And the law is weighted toward the guys with the money and power. Therefore you need someone on your team who can take on those challenges. I would highly recommend you contact Lee Seham at Seham, Seham, Meltz, and Peterson. Call and make your appointment today: 914-997-1346 And if you get your AIR21 Book between now and August 30, 2025, you still have time to enter the drawing to win a car! Drawing will be on August 31, 2025.
