Jorge Escobedo has filed a significant lawsuit that underscores the critical importance of trust and professionalism in legal representation. On April 11, 2025, Escobedo submitted a complaint to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, against attorney Joseph Colsant and his law firm, Fawell and Associates. The lawsuit accuses them of negligence and misconduct in handling an immigration application for Escobedo's wife, Maria Teresa Martinez-Ruedas.
The case revolves around the alleged mishandling of an immigration waiver application submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). According to the complaint, Escobedo and his wife engaged Colsant and his firm to assist with Maria Teresa's application for lawful entry into the United States. The defendants were responsible for preparing and submitting USCIS Form I-601 on behalf of Maria Teresa. However, it is alleged that they submitted this crucial document without obtaining her genuine signature—a requirement for such applications. Instead, someone else purportedly signed on her behalf without her authorization.
The situation worsened when USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny the application due to the missing authentic signature. In response, the defendants allegedly concocted a story claiming that Maria Teresa had signed with her non-dominant hand due to an infection. This fabricated narrative was communicated not only to Maria Teresa but also included in a written statement she was advised to sign by her attorneys.
Ultimately, USCIS denied Maria Teresa's application on October 3, 2023, leaving her stranded in Mexico while separated from her family in the United States. This denial has caused significant emotional distress and financial loss for both Jorge Escobedo and his wife. They have been deprived of each other's companionship and faced substantial expenses related to legal fees and other costs incurred while attempting to rectify the situation.
Escobedo's lawsuit highlights multiple breaches of professional duty by Colsant and Fawell and Associates. These include failing to secure Maria Teresa's genuine signature on essential documents, fabricating false explanations regarding signatures, and neglecting their duty of care as legal representatives. As a result of these alleged failures, Escobedo seeks damages exceeding $1 million from the defendants.
Representing Jorge Escobedo is attorney Robert J. Slobig from Torshen, Slobig & Axel Ltd., based in Chicago. The case is identified under Case ID 2025L005004 in the Circuit Court of Cook County Law Division.