Unfortunately, OE, your experiences with the legal system are not atypical - including the issues with your first attorney's state of mind, that kind of thing happens too much, since there is little oversight of the "quality" of legal representation, and ethical and practical violations need to be pretty blatant before the state/bar association client grievance entities become involved. And of course, it is standard operating procedure to "wear down" the plaintiff, any defense attorney will do everything possible to throw roadblocks in the path of a plaintiff. Unfortunately, it is an adversarial system, so that is how it works. It does not leave many people feeling that there is "justice", yet no one has come up with a viable alternative.

Honestly, if someone is involved in a situation like yours, even if the initial event that resulted in their damages didn't cause PTSD, the entire process as a lawsuit winds its way through the system is enough to induce PTSD. It is a brutal thing, like a dangerous surgery, that often has to be pursued if there is any hope of restitution.