You can request fee arbitration with the district state bar association. See this link.

The only other alternative is to defend the lawsuit, which is difficult to do, unless you have a lawyer, or file bankruptcy. If you have no assets and only a job, then you could probably file a "do-it-yourself" bankruptcy and that would wipe out the obligation to the attorney. However, the filing fees for a bankruptcy are around $400 (though, if you're totally broke you can avoid the fees, by asking the court to proceed "in forma pauperis" (in poverty). See this link for a "how-to" book.

Otherwise, you could offer the attorney the same $400 to settle the matter -- but, you need to get it in writing before you pay, otherwise the attorney could take your money and the sue you for the remaining $1,300.

I think that about covers all of the possible options.

Please let me know if I can clarify or assist you further.

NOTICE: My goal here is to entertain while educating the public about the law. I hope my answer is useful and informative to you. During our conversation, the website may ask you to rate my answer. If you rate my answer lower than the middle rating, then the website retains your entire payment, and I receive nothing. It is entirely your choice as to how you rate my answer. However, because your payment to me is in the nature of a donation/gift, rather than as compensation for any services rendered, you are entitled to know how your rating affects the final distribution of your donation.

If you need to contact me again, please put my user id at the beginning of your question ("To Socrateaser"), and the system will send me an alert. Please Click the following link for IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION. Thanks and best wishes!