Questions & Answers
What type of cases do you generally handle?
I handle civil and criminal cases.
On the civil side I primarily represent clients who have suffered hurricane, storm or catastrophic damage to their home or business property. I represent persons that have been injured as a result auto accidents or personal injury.
On the criminal side I represent persons facing serious felonies (with the exception of child molestation and child abuse cases) and misdemeanors; civil rights cases involving false arrest, excessive use of force, and other police misconduct cases.
Other than a law degree, what kind of special training or knowledge do you have?
What are your attorney fees and costs, and how are they billed?
Attorney’s fees will vary from case to case based on the following factors approved by the Florida Bar:
- the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved and the skill requisite to perform the legal services properly;
- the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar services;
- the amount involved and the results obtained;
- the time limitations imposed by you or by the circumstances;
- the nature and length of the professional relationship with you;
- the experience, reputation and ability of the attorneys performing the services.
Homeowner Insurance Claims and Auto Accident Cases are handled on a contingency basis meaning you pay nothing up front and nothing at all if we don’t recover any monies for you.
All other types of cases are usually handled on an hourly basis or flat fee depending on the complexity of the case.
Whether your case is a fixed fee, monthly installment or hourly, every client will receive a monthly statement highlighting all of the work done on your matter, what legal fees and costs if any are owed, etc.
Can a portion or all of my case be handled by paralegals or legal assistants and if so will there be a reduction in my fees?
On hourly matters, any work performed by a paralegal or law clerk will be billed at a reduced rate. Whenever possible, any work that can be easily performed by a paralegal or law clerk will be delegated by the attorney.
Ultimately, the attorney is responsible for your case and there are many instances, i.e., making court appearances, drafting significant motions, negotiating settlement terms, which have to be handled by the attorney. Any work done by other staff members such as receptionists, secretaries, will not be billed.
Work performed by paralegals or law clerks in fixed fee matters will not be billed but the time will be logged and will appear on clients’ monthly statements.
Do you have a payment plan, or do I have to pay your fees all up front?
In limited cases, payment plans are available. In instances where a payment plan is established, the client would generally give a down payment and make a monthly payment for legal services.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, Master Card and American Express, check or cash. Please see our payment portal if you are an existing client.
What is your approach or philosophy to winning or representing a case?
My philosophy is always focused on winning while remaining focused on the client’s overall goals. Winning a case means different things to different people. For Example, in a criminal case sometimes wining means getting the prosecution to drop the charges, not file charges at all, reduce the charges or simply minimizing the client’s exposure to incarceration. In a civil or family law case, winning may mean entering into a settlement agreement either to avoid litigation altogether or resolve the case without further litigation because results aren’t guaranteed. A settlement usually results in some form of compensation or benefit for both parties.