Can an attorney settle out of court for client without client signing?

You ultimately must sign off on the settlement because you must sign a release. Tell your attorney that you decline the settlement, if it is not in your best interest. Keep in mind, you may not get a better offer; and trial may not be cost effective.

He can negotiate a settlement, but the client must approve it

The lawyer is your employee. He is supposed to act for your benefit. However, it gets murky when the client has unreasonable expectations. In my office if the client will not listen to my advice, I tell them to reimburse all the expense I have incurred, and advance all of the trial costs, and then I will try their case. Clients do not gamble with my money. If they won't do that, then they must get another lawyer, and I levy a lien for my costs, and for the fee based on the last settlement offer.

A Michigan attorney has an ethical duty to keep their client informed of the progress of the legal matter they are handling for the client. The attorney also has a duty to fully and fairly explain to the client their legal options and any offers of settlement. The case, and decisions whether to settle or not, belong to the client, not the attorney. Unless you have given the attorney authority to settle a case on your behalf, the attorney may not ethically settle the case, nor sign any papers agreeing to settle.? It is typical that if insurance is involved in paying any settlement that the paying insurer will require the client sign a Release. You likely will want a 2nd opinion from independent counsel as to whether your lawyer acted in your best interests in agreeing to the settlement you mention. Of course, you should get more particulars from your counsel as to the amount of the settlement, why they agreed to same without informing you, the benefits of the settlement, the likelihood of getting a better settlement and/or the pros and cons of rejecting the settlement and proceeding further, including to trial, how much their costs and fees are that they will expect to receive out of the settlement, what the settlement covers, etc. You are also entitled to hire new counsel and/or file a Grievance against your lawyer for failing to keep you informed (if that is in fact the case, which you indicate it is) and in settling the matter without your consent (if that is in fact what occurred, which you indicate it did). If your allegations are accurate, I do not think the State Bar would be happy with a lawyer who did not keep his client informed, explain the clients options and who acted to resolve a matter without the clients consent (again, assuming that is exactly what occurred).