Waiting for a personal injury lawsuit to settle in 2004, Juan Rodriguez was short of cash when he says his former attorney at Jacoby & Meyers suggested he take out a $30,000 advance with a litigation funding company.

Seven years later, Rodriguez, who will owe Whitehaven Financial Group as much as $800,000 if he settles his suit, is accusing Jacoby & Meyers of encouraging him and other clients who are down on their luck to seek litigation loans with “usurious” rates.