Civil (Breach of Contract, Consumer Rights, Disability Discrimination, Monell Policy, Public Records Law, and Police Misconduct) Limited-Scope Representation of Plaintiff. Amount In Dispute Cannot Exceed $10,000. In your initial phone consultation, I will advise (or give you next steps for enabling me to advise) as to which packages and add-on services would apply to your case initially, and which might apply depending how the various stages of litigation proceeds.
Standard Package Costs:
Amount in Dispute:
Less than $3,000: Single Claim: $395; Multi-Claim: $495.
Between $3,000 and $6,500: Single Claim: $595; Multi-Claim: $695.
Between $6,500 and $9,999: Single Claim: $795; Multi-Claim: $995.
Standard Package for Above Includes (Subject to 1 Hour Per $250 In Dispute Time Cap):
1. Up to 45-Minutes Initial Phone Consultation and Debrief.
2. Review of Any Evidence Already in Your Possession and Appropriate Preliminary Legal Research.
3. Up to 30-Minutes Follow-Up Phone Conference with You Regarding My First Impression of the Merits of Your Case and Whether/How to Proceed. (At this stage, if I decline to proceed and actual time spent at my ordinary hourly rate is less than the fixed fee paid, you will be refunded the difference. After this stage, it is expected that (in like manner to insurance) I may earn more by fixed fee than hourly and this compensates for the degree of risk I assume that I may earn less, based on the time max/cap at my hourly rate far exceeding the fixed fee.)
4. If I Deem Your Case Tentatively Ethical (Per the Standards of the Iowa Rules of Professional Responsibility) and Otherwise Reasonable in My Sole Discretion to Proceed With, Appropriate Demand Letter from Me to Other Party on Your Behalf Asserting Your Position Regarding the Factual Circumstances and Legal Conclusions Thereupon, an Opening Offer for Settlement, and Your Intention to Sue if Acceptable Settlement Not Reached; and Reasonable Pre-Filing Correspondence Elicited and/or Settlement Negotiations if Parties are Open to Settlement (Subject to Independent Up to 15 Minutes Per $250 in Dispute Time Cap).
5. If Pre-Filing Settlement Fails, Drafting, Filing with the Court on Your Behalf, and Arranging Required Service on Other Party* a Legal Complaint to Initiate the Lawsuit Detailing the Itemized Factual Allegations, Legal Claims Asserted, and Relief Requested from the Court, As Well as a Jury Demand if Desired (Subject to $85 Court Filing Fee if $6,500 or Less in Dispute and $185 Court Filing Fee if More Than $6,500 in Dispute, Which Court Costs are Not
Included).
6. Reviewing the Answer and Any Other Response from the Defendant When Served.
7. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of a Motion for Default Judgment on Your Behalf if the Defendant Does Not Timely Answer the Lawsuit.
8. Reviewing, Researching, and Drafting/Filing/Arranging Service* of a Written Resistance to Any Pre-Answer (or Concurrent with Answer) Defense Motion to Dismiss (if Filed by Defendant) When Served.
9. Up to 45-Minutes Follow-Up Phone Conference with You Regarding the Defendant’s Response(s) and Your Options and Next Steps for Proceeding with Me, Another Attorney, or Self-Represented.
Standard Package Does Not Include Discovery, Pretrial Motions, Any In-Court Conferences, Hearings, or Trials, or Responding to Any Counterclaims (if Any), Appellate Proceedings, or Proceedings to Collect on Any Court Judgment.
* (Fees of Third-Party Couriers/Service Agents Not Included, Though Will Use E-Filing (EDMS) System and/or US Mail to accomplish service where allowed by law, as typical for all pleadings after original notice).
1. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Your Answer (with Written Motion to Dismiss Where Appropriate) to Any Counterclaims Filed. $275.
2. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion for Judgment of Liability on the Pleadings if Defendant Admits in Answer to All Elements of One or More Claim(s). $175.
3. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* Written Motion for Discovery as Appropriate for Case and Procedural Rules Governing Amount in Dispute, Then Representing You in Requests for Production of Documents and/or Physical Evidence, Interrogatories, and Videoconference Depositions (No In-Person Depositions Included), and in Responding to Discovery Requests or Discovery Motions from Defendant. Where Appropriate, Drafting/Filing/Arranging Service* of Motions to Compel Discovery Response Where Defendant Fails to Comply with Lawful Requests. As Appropriate, Third Party Investigators and Experts Can be Hired, but Their Fees Are Not Included; Discovery Services Subject to 7-Hour Time Cap. $450.
4. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion In Limine (Request That the Court Rule Specific Evidence as Legally Admissible or Inadmissible Before Trial So That Any Complex Legal Issues Can Be Resolved Without Delaying or Prejudicing the Trial, and so Trial Strategy and Preparation Can Rely on the Court’s Decision).
$150 for Single Evidentiary Issue, $250 for Two Evidentiary Issues, and $350 for Three or More Evidentiary Issues.
5. Post-Discovery Settlement Conference with You and Opposing Party or Counsel if Parties Are Open to Entertaining Settlement (Subject to 3-Hour Time Cap). $150.
6. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion for Summary Judgment Upon Completion of Discovery Where Evidence is Sufficiently Overwhelming as to Meet Standard for Summary Judgment on Liability, and/or Written Resistance to Any Defense Motion for Summary Judgment of Non-Liability if Filed by Defendant When Served. $375.
7. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion for Continuance to Reschedule Trial or Hearing Where Court Sets Trial Date That Would Cause You Undue Hardship or Leave Inadequate Time to Prepare Case. $75.
8. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Trial Brief Arguing Most Favorable Legal Interpretation of the Laws Governing What Disputed Facts You Must Prove to Prevail on Claims and What Relief That
Would Entitle You to (If Jury Trial, Appended with Proposed Jury Instructions Thereupon). $250 if Bench Trial; $350 if Jury Trial.
9. Written Outline of Your Best Arguments at Trial, List of Questions to Ask Your Witnesses (if Any Other than You) on Direct, Statements to Make as Witness, Anticipated Cross-Examination Issues and Strategies, General Trial Procedures, and Explanation of Common Types of Evidentiary Objections (For Use Preparing for Trial as Self-Represented Litigant). $250.
10. Appeal to District Court if Amount in Dispute is $6,500 or Less:
If Appellant: Draft/File/Arrange Service* of Motions to Reconsider as Needed to Preserve Issues, Motion to Transcribe, Notice of Appeal, and Appellant Brief. Review any Appellee Brief and Decision by Court, with up to 30-Minute Post-Appeal Phone Conference to Answer Questions. Excludes any In-Person Oral Argument if Requested by the Court, and any Proceedings if/after Remanded. $1,750-$3,500 (Plus Expenses and Court Costs) Depending on Complexity of Issues.
If Appellee: Review Appellant Filings/Brief, Respond by Drafting/Filing/Arranging Service* of Appellee Brief, then Review Decision by Court, with up to 30-Minute Post-Appeal Phone Conference to Answer Questions. Excludes any In-Person Oral Argument if Requested by the Court, and any Proceedings if/after Remanded. $1,500-$2,750 Depending on Complexity of Issues (Plus Expenses and Court Costs)..
In your initial phone consultation, I will advise (or give you next steps for enabling me to advise) as to which packages and add-on services would apply to your case initially, and which might apply depending how the various stages of litigation proceeds. Standard Package Fixed Fees Subject to 1 Hour Per $250 in Dispute Time Cap. If You’re Sued for $10,000 or Less Where Plaintiff Alleges Breach of Contract:
If Hired At Least 14 Days Before Deadline to Answer Suit, Standard Package Costs $995 for the First Claim Defended, Plus $295 for Each Additional Claim Either Defended or Counterclaimed:
1. Up to 30-Minute Initial Intake Consultation Regarding Your Case.
2. Review of the Legal Complaint Filed by Plaintiff, Any Written Contract Between You and Plaintiff, and Do Appropriate Preliminary Legal Research.
3. Up to 60-Minute Follow-Up Consultation and Debrief Concerning Plaintiff’s Allegations, the Degree of Veracity in Plaintiff’s Legal Contentions, Your Side of the Facts, and the Legal Posture as to Your Liability (if Any) Based on Your Facts and Appropriate Iterations of the
Facts the Court Could Find, What Evidence Plaintiff Might Have and Rebuttal Evidence You Have, the Merits of Settlement, and Whether You Have Grounds for Any Countersuit Against Plaintiff Based on the Matters at Issue.
3. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* on Plaintiff of a Motion to Dismiss Where Applicable, Answer and Assertion of Applicable Affirmative Defenses, and Cross-Complaint for Any Appropriate Counterclaims That Do Not Raise Total Amount in Dispute Over $10,000.
4. Review of Plaintiff’s Answer and Responsive Filings to Any Cross-Complaint for Counterclaims, and if Appropriate Thereupon, Draft/File/Arrange Service* of Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings if They Admit to All Elements of One or More Counterclaim(s) and/or Written Resistance to any Pre-Answer (or Concurrent with Answer)
Motion to Dismiss any of the Counterclaims.
5. Appropriate Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Appropriate Discovery Requests and Motions for Production of the Documentary and Physical Evidence by Plaintiff, and for Interrogatories, and Responses to Any Discovery Requests or Motions from Plaintiff.
(Depositions Excluded from Scope of Representation, and Discovery Services Subject to 5-Hour Time Cap and Court Procedural Rules for Amount in Dispute).
6. Post-Discovery Settlement Conference with You and Opposing Party or Counsel if Parties Are Open to Entertaining Settlement (Subject to 3-Hour Time Cap).
7. Up to 45-Minutes Follow-Up Phone Conference with You Regarding the Plaintiff’s Response(s) and Your Options and Next Steps for Proceeding with Me, Another Attorney, or Self-Represented.
Standard Package Does Not Include All Pretrial Motions (any Not Explicitly Stated Above), or Any In-Court Conferences, Hearings, or Trials, Appellate Proceedings, or Proceedings to Collect on Any Court Judgment.
* (Fees of Third-Party Couriers/Service Agents Not Included, Though Will Use E-Filing (EDMS) System and/or US Mail to accomplish service where allowed by law, as typical for all pleadings after original notice).
The services provided are the same as above, but the fees above are subject to a $350 surcharge if hired between 7 and 13 days from the deadline to answer the lawsuit, and subject to a $650 surcharge if hired between 3 and 6 days from the deadline to answer the lawsuit. If the deadline is in less than 3 days, fixed fee services are unavailable and the case would only be considered under emergency front-end and express turnaround back-end hourly rates.
1. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion In Limine (Request That the Court Rule Specific Evidence as Legally Admissible or Inadmissible Before Trial So That Any Complex Legal Issues Can Be Resolved Without Delaying or Prejudicing the Trial, and so Trial Strategy and Preparation Can Rely on the Court’s Decision): $150 for Single Evidentiary Issue, $250 for Two Evidentiary Issues, and
$350 for Three or More Evidentiary Issues.
2. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion for Summary Judgment Upon Completion of Discovery Where Evidence is Legally Insufficient on One or More Disputed Facts Plaintiff Must
Prove so as to Meet Standard for Summary Judgment, and/or Written Resistance to Any Plaintiff Motion for Summary Judgment of Liability as a Matter of Law if Filed by Plaintiff When Served: $375
3. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Written Motion for Continuance to Reschedule Trial or Hearing Where Court Sets Trial Date That Would Cause You Undue Hardship or Leave Inadequate Time to Prepare Case: $75
4. Drafting, Filing, and Arranging Service* of Trial Brief Arguing Most Favorable Legal Interpretation of the Laws Governing What Disputed Facts Plaintiff Must Prove to Prevail and the Limits of the Relief
Available for Such Claims if Plaintiff Seeks Relief Unauthorized by Law (If Jury Trial, Appended with Proposed Jury Instructions Thereupon): $250 if Bench Trial; $350 if Jury Trial.
5. Written Outline of Your Best Arguments at Trial, List of Questions to Ask Your Witnesses (if Any Other than You) on Direct, Statements to Make as Witness, Anticipated Cross-Examination Issues and Strategies, General Trial Procedures, and Explanation of Common Types of Evidentiary Objections (For Use Preparing for Trial by Self-Represented): $250
6. Appropriate Post-Trial Motions to Preserve Appellate Issues and (Briefing Only, Any Oral Argument Not Included) Appellate Representation in Appeal from Final Judgment of Any Adverse Outcome to District Court or in Defending Judgment Below if Favorable Outcome Obtained and Plaintiff Appeals: $1,750 if Plaintiff Appeals Favorable Judgment and $2,750 if You Appeal Adverse Judgment. (Plus Expenses and Court Costs).
Limited-Scope Representation (Written and Telephonic Correspondence Only) in Pursuing an Administrative Complaint, Which Sometimes Can Be Required to Have Been Exhausted in Order to Sue in Court Later.
If Any Iowa or Local (In Iowa) Governmental Entity Denies or Fails to Respond to a Request for Public Records, You May Be Entitled to Relief Under Iowa Code Ch. 22 and IPIB can assist in enforcing that law.
Submission of a complaint regarding any police misconduct you may have witnessed or been victimized by to the offending officer's law enforcement agency, which typically will be investigated internally by that Department's command staff or sometimes a civilian oversight board depending on the agency. Includes Initial Complaint Letter and Reasonable Written and/or Telephonic Follow-Up Correspondence.
Where police actions have violated your Federal and/or Iowa legal rights, a complaint may be filed with the Department of Justice at the corresponding government, which may investigate and pursue the matter at its discretion. Includes Initial Complaint Letter and Reasonable Written and/or Telephonic Follow-Up Correspondence.
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