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Our trial lawyers and support staff bring a world of professional resources to each case, but we also pride ourselves on the personal attention that we give each client. You may have heard stories about clients who only briefly (or never!) met the trial lawyer who was supposedly handling their case. Here’s what you can expect when the Liever, Hyman & Potter team is on your side.
1. call us There is no cost or obligation. You will speak with one of our five trial lawyers — not a paralegal, not a recent law school graduate, not some toll-free, long-distance law firm.
2. Describe what happened. Our attorney will tell you if he thinks you have a valid case. If so, he will meet with you at a time and place of your convenience to discuss it in detail. This will also be without cost, obligation or pressure.
3. If you would like us to represent you, and we feel your case is valid, you will sign a contingent fee agreement authorizing us to act on your behalf. This says that the firm will obtain a percentage of the financial recovery should we be successful on your behalf; if we are not, you owe us no legal fee. Unlike most others, it also says that, if we are not successful, you will not have to repay any of the expenses that we may have advanced on your behalf. In other words, it assures you that you will pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
4. After we are retained, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation of the facts, including the harm caused to you or your family member. Building your case may include:
- Obtaining all related hospital and medical records to determine the exact nature and extent of the injuries
- Professional photography to document scarring
- Producing a “day in the life” film that illustrates the effect of the injury on your daily life
- Enlisting qualified physicians to review medical and hospital records (for medical negligence cases)
- Enlisting engineers (e.g. highway, forensic, product design) for professional analysis of contributing factors
5. When your case is together, we’ll meet to obtain “settlement authority” to submit a demand on your behalf. You will stay closely involved, and no offer will be accepted without your approval. We’ll do our best to keep you informed every step of the way.
6. Many cases are settled at this point. But if an acceptable recovery can’t be obtained…
7. …we’ll file a lawsuit on your behalf. The next step is called “discovery” — working to obtain from your opponent information that will help us prepare your case for trial. This involves filing formal requests for relevant information about the accident and the taking of depositions. A deposition is oral questioning of parties and witnesses under oath in a lawyer’s office. We will fully prepare you before you testify, and we’ll be there throughout your deposition.
8. We will further develop your case, and again present a settlement demand to the insurance company.
9. It is possible that you may have to submit to a medical examination by a doctor hired by the opposing insurance company. We’ll fully explain this process and accompany you to the examination as permitted by law.
10. When the formal “discovery” is completed, we’ll certify the case for trial, preparing and submitting a Pretrial Conference Memorandum on your behalf. This conference, held with the attorneys and a judge, is another opportunity to obtain a fair and appropriate settlement.
11. If your case does not settle, we will proceed to trial. We will assemble the appropriate exhibits and subpoena the necessary witnesses, including expert witnesses, if necessary. You will be fully informed of the trial preparation process and will be prepared to testify at your trial.
12. If and when a verdict is rendered in your favor, we will continue to take any steps necessary to collect the appropriate judgment.
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