The Client's financial responsibility has two parts. The first part is attorney's fees for the attorney's services rendered in the case. The second part is litigation costs, which generally represent expenses that the Client will incur in connection with the litigation.
ATTORNEY'S FEES:
Rates are competitive with rates charged at other law firms.
1. Mixed-Contingency Attorney's Fee Arrangement:
The Client pays a one-time initial $720.00 in fixed fees; the balance of attorney's fees are paid as contingency fees out of the proceeds of any settlement, arbitration award, judgment or other resolution that generates a recovery for the Client. If there is no recovery for the Client, then there are no contingency fees. Mr. DiPaola's contingency fee rate is thirty percent (30% ) of gross cash and non-cash proceeds recovered. Accordingly, the client's total fee obligation is $720.00 plus 30% of gross proceeds recovered.
2. Hourly Attorney's Fee Arrangement:
Alternatively, in certain situations Mr. DiPaola will agree to represent a Client on a straight hourly basis. Mr. DiPaola's hourly rate is $240.00 per hour. Mr. DiPaola bills by the quarter hour.
COSTS:
Costs are generally court costs, and expenses for products and services provided by/obtained from third parties in connection with litigation. Some typical litigation costs are:
(1) Court filing fees;
(2) Court reporter/deposition fees;
(3) Postage, messenger, overnight delivery fees;
(4) Photocopying;
(5) Long-distance phone charges;
(6) Fax transmissions;
(7) Process service fees;
(8) Expert witness fees; etc.
There is no premium billing. There are no "add-on" charges; all costs are billed at actual cost. Everything possible is done to try to keep the Client's litigation costs to a minimum.
The Client pays an initial/advance costs deposit of $500.00, and agrees to be responsible for further litigation costs as they come due.
The Law Offices of Joe DiPaola, Esq.
