Court Orders Man to Pay 30,000 Shekels for Disability and Tax Benefit Services

A man has been ordered by a court to pay 30,000 shekels to a company that helped him secure disability benefits and tax exemptions, after he refused to pay the agreed-upon fee. The man had contracted "Orpaz - Realization of Medical Rights" to assist him, paying an initial 5,265 shekels and providing his personal login details for the National Insurance Institute website. He later visited the company's office and submitted medical documents.

Following the company's intervention, the man was granted a 91% disability rating and exemption from income tax. Despite these outcomes, he refused to pay the remaining 30,000 shekel fee, which included VAT. The company initiated legal proceedings against him.

The man contested the payment, claiming he had not signed the power of attorney or payment obligation, and that his signature was forged. He also argued that he and his daughters had done most of the work, and the company had not delivered the promised services. However, Senior Registrar Elena Borochovich Litvin dismissed these claims, noting the man's failure to present a handwriting expert to support his forgery accusation.

The court found that the man had acknowledged meeting with a company representative at his home, where he paid the initial fee and provided his login credentials. He also admitted to visiting the company's office and receiving assistance with submitting documents to the National Insurance. He further confirmed receiving explanations from the company.

The company's services, as per the signed power of attorney, included filling out forms, organizing medical documents, submitting them to relevant authorities, and preparing the client for medical examinations. The man had argued he expected monetary compensation for his conditions, not just a tax exemption, and couldn't utilize the tax benefit as he was unable to work. The court ruled this was a misjudgment of the deal's benefits, not grounds for contract termination, especially since the agreed services were rendered and the desired outcome achieved.

Consequently, the company's claim was upheld. The man must now pay the 30,000 shekel fee, plus 1,500 shekels in court costs and 6,000 shekels for the company's legal fees, including VAT. The case has been returned to the enforcement office.