A legal battle is unfolding in Pinellas County, Florida, where a plaintiff has accused several attorneys and law firms of malpractice. Joan E. Benko filed a complaint on November 20, 2024, in the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit against Lee Segal, Esq., Christopher Hixson, Esq., Florida Foreclosure & Credit Defense Firm PL, Segal & Schuh Law Group PL, and Hixson Law Group. The lawsuit alleges negligence and misconduct in handling legal matters that have significantly impacted her life.

Joan E. Benko’s complaint stems from events dating back to March 31, 2016, when she retained Lee Segal and his firm to represent her in a foreclosure case involving Green Tree Servicing LLC and George Weber as trustee of the Benko Family Land Trust. Benko claims that during a court hearing on that date, it was decided without her input that Segal would represent her to obtain a Consent for Waiver of Deficiency while George Weber would cover attorney fees. This arrangement left Benko feeling sidelined as decisions were made without her consent or knowledge.

Benko further alleges that she hired Segal again on April 13, 2016, to sue Bank of America over issues related to her property at 3697 Fremantle Dr., Palm Harbor. Despite this agreement, she accuses the defendants of failing to act with reasonable care and skill in prosecuting these cases. According to the complaint, unauthorized documents were filed without her consent or knowledge, and there was a lack of communication from Segal’s office until October 31, 2022.