Common Questions

Here are responses to some of the most frequent questions potential clients ask:

1. Do I have a case?
“Yes”, “no”, or “maybe” will be the answer. We will be honest and candid in our response. “Maybe” arises in situations where we need to obtain more information and/or perform research in order to evaluate the validity of your claim.

2. How are my legal fees and case expenses paid?
Most of our cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, where we take a percentage of your total recovery. If we do not recover money for you, then you do not owe us for our services. Most of the time we advance case expenses, and will be reimbursed by you when the case is over.

3. What if the case involves a claim in another state?
Our attorneys are admitted in: Washington, California, Alaska, Colorado, and Minnesota. If needed we retain counsel to assist us in states that we are not licensed. Normally out-of-state counsel are compensated by us as part of our contingency fee.

4. What is the value of my case?
It depends. Every case is different and each case has different variables that warrant different valuation ranges. Though there is never a guarantee of any recovery, as we learn more about the facts and damages of your case, we evaluate it based upon many criteria, including our extensive case handling and evaluation experience.

5. Who will be working on my case?
One or more lawyers, a legal assistant, and depending on the case, one or more experts may be retained as needed to establish liability and/or damages.

6. Who will I be dealing with?
A lawyer, plain and simple. We are small enough to give each of our client’s personal attention. You may also work with a legal assistant as well, who is an important part of our team. An attorney will regularly update you on the status of your case, and any time you call an attorney will take your call if we are available, or will promptly call you back.

7. What work will I have to do on my case?
You will need to cooperate with our office in providing us information about your case. If a lawsuit is filed, you may be asked to assist us in responding to discovery requests, which may include responding to written question and document request. You may also be asked to have your deposition taken, which is an informal question and answer session, under oath, which is recorded by a court reporter.

8. When will my case go to trial?
It depends on many factors, including which jurisdiction the case is in, and the local rules and practices of the specific court. Once we file the case we will be in a better position to estimate the trial date. If your case does end up in trial, you will need to attend.

9. What is the likelihood of my case settling before trial?
In general, your case is more likely to settle before trial than go to trial. However, each case is different, and the likelihood of settlement depends upon many variables unique to each case. In most cases we will inform you what we think is a reasonable settlement value or range, but we will not settle your case without your permission.