The undersigned Client, hereby retains/employs, Schrold Law Center, LLC (which is interchangeable used with “Attorneys”), as my attorney of record, regarding my diminished value and or loss of use claim(s), as referenced below which occurred on or about::
AUTHORIZATION/EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION: I authorize Attorneys, to act on my behalf in prosecuting my diminished value and or loss of use claim(s). Attorneys are therefore authorized to make such investigations, undertake such legal proceedings, and to expend any such monies for costs as they may deem necessary in furtherance of the claim(s). The Client acknowledges that Attorneys will solely represent him/her in a diminished value and or loss of use claim(s). Note that other than Of Counsel listed above, Attorneys contains no additional partners and or associates. Any other attorneys, associates, law clerks, and or law firms located at 9650 Strickland Rd Ste 103-361 Raleigh, NC ARE NOT associated with Schrold Law Center, LLC That being said, Attorneys may consult with other lawyers to discuss the claims(s) and therefore you give consent to same. Should the need arise however for another lawyers(s) and or law firm(s) to act as either co-counsel, take over in part, or handle these entire matters, Attorneys will accordingly notify the Client concerning such referral in writing. If the Client objects however to the referral(s), he/she MUST communicate the objection in writing, and may
ATTORNEYS FEES: This employment is on a contingent fee basis. If no recovery is made, no attorneys fees will be due and owing. As compensation for services, I agree to pay an attorney’s fee based on the percentage of the total gross recovery. The attorney’s fee shall be as follows: (a) 33-1/3% of any recovery through the time of filing of an answer or the demand for appointment of arbitrators or (b) 40% of any recovery if a lawsuit is required. If however at any time that Attorneys are discharged for any reason by the Client, Schrold Law Center, LLC shall retain an attorney’s fee lien for fees and costs expended based upon past services rendered upon the theory of Quantum Meruit for all services rendered and costs expenses during the period of representation for said Client which under ordinary circumstances a reasonable person would reasonably expect to pay Attorneys for such benefit or benefits for their work in procuring same. Determination as to the amount of fees and costs may be resolved by
Participation Fees: Client understands that there may be a participation fee in this case with another attorney/law firm(s). As such, Schrold Law Center, LLC would share in any fee paid in relation to the amount of the participation and responsibility assumed by each attorney’s law firm. Attorneys traditionally pay 15% percent of
COSTS: The Client agrees to reimburse Attorneys for the appraisal fee along with an additional $100 for administrative expenses (copies, fax, postage, etc). It is understood that these costs are separate and apart from attorney's fees and are my responsibility. If there is no recovery however, no costs are due unless Schrold Law Center, LLC is hereby discharged; consequently a lien shall be filed with the Court and all parties.
CLIENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES: The Client agrees to promptly and fully advise Attorneys as to any developments and or information which may have a bearing on the claim(s). The Client therefore agrees to keep Attorneys advised at all times as to their current personal information, including his/her current home mailing address, active telephone numbers, available work address, email address, and or an alternative mailing address. The Client also will not discuss his/her claim(s) with any person not specifically authorized by Attorneys and shall agree to cooperate fully with us during the period of representation. The Client understands that Attorneys rely on the truthfulness of all statements made to them during the course of representation, and that the Client may be subject to criminal prosecution if he/she makes false or misleading statements in connection with the claim(s) Attorneys may terminate this contract if the Client does not fully comply with its terms, or if a determination is made that the Client's claim(s) should not be prosecuted. As such Attorneys will notify the Client in writing about such withdrawal.
ATTORNEY’S RESPONSIBILITIES: The undersigned agrees to diligently pursue the Client’s diminished value and or loss of use claim(s) and to keep him/her fully informed as to the progress of same. Client understands/agrees that Attorneys will return the Client’s file after the closing of the claim(s) and or provide a copy of same if terminated. If the Client does not request the file after (30) thirty days of notice to do so, it shall be destroyed.
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY: The undersigned Client does hereby make, constitute, and appoint the undersigned Attorneys as the Client's agent and attorney-in-fact to act in the Client's name, place, and stead to negotiate the Client's diminished value, loss of use and or any other related settlement check/draft, but only for the purpose of this contract. All such monies shall be deposited in to the Attorney's Trust Account in accordance with the bar accounting practices. No monies however will be disbursed to the Client until said funds have cleared Attorney's Trust Account and any and all liens (if applicable) have been resolved.
APPROVAL AND VERIFICATION OF CONTRACT/NOTICE OF CONFLICTS: The Client understands that this contract is binding upon the execution of both parties whether it be via hand or electronic pursuant to F.S.§92.525 Verification of documents, F.S.§668.50 Uniform Electronic Transaction Act 7(a), (b) and or Chapter 15 U.S.C. Chapter 19 (ESIGN Act). The Client may however may terminate this contract in writing. If it is done within (3) days, there shall ne no attorney’s fee due however Attorneys can recoup any advanced costs. If the Client terminates, The Attorneys after (3) days, Schrold Law Center, LLC shall retain a charging lien for reasonable attorney’s fees and applicable costs as determined by the Court based upon Quantum Meruit for legal services rendered and costs expended during the period of representation. Further, the Client understands that any potential and or known conflicts of interest have been fully disclosed by Attorneys. Nevertheless, both the Client and Attorneys agree to continue the representation in this matter. Should unanticipated additional factors arise, this issue may need to be re-addressed, including that the Client may be forced to obtain alternative counsel, and Attorneys may need to withdraw from further representation in this regard.
COMMUNICATIONS BY TEXT and EMAIL MESSAGING: I (the Client), expressly agree to allow Attorneys to send me text and or email messages from time to time regarding the claims and or any other important legal issue.I however can opt out at any time upon request. By initialing below, I hereby understand and agree to allow to be contacted by text message and or via email.
Before you, the prospective client, arrange a contingent fee agreement with a lawyer, you should
There is no legal requirement that a lawyer charge a client a set fee or percentage of money recovered in a case. You, the client, have the right to talk with your lawyer about the proposed fee and to bargain about the rate or percentage as in any other contract. If you do not reach an agreement with one lawyer, you may talk with other lawyers.
Any contingent fee contract must be in writing and you have three (3) business days to reconsider the contract. You may cancel the contract without any reason if you notify your lawyer in writing within (3) three business days of signing the contract. If you withdraw from the contract within the first (3) three days, you do not owe the lawyer a fee although you may be responsible of the lawyer’s actual costs during that time. If your lawyer begins to represent you, your lawyer may not withdraw from the case without giving you notice, delivering necessary papers to you and allowing you time to employ another lawyer. Often, your lawyer must obtain court approval before withdrawing from a case. If you discharge your lawyer without good cause after the (3) three day period, you may have to pay a fee for work the lawyer has done.
Before hiring a lawyer, you , the client have the right to know about the lawyer’s education, training, and experience. If you ask, the lawyer should tell you specifically about his or her actual experience dealing with cases similar to yours. If you ask, the lawyer should provide information about special training or knowledge and give you this information in writing if you request it.
Before signing a contingent fee contract with you, a lawyer must advise you whether he or she intends to handle your case alone or whether other lawyers will be helping with the case. If your lawyer intends to refer the case to other lawyers, he or she should tell you what kind of fee sharing arrangement will be made with the other lawyers. If lawyers from different law firms will represent you, at least one lawyer from each law firm must sign the contingent fee contract.
If the lawyer intends to refer your case to another lawyer or counsel with other lawyers, your lawyer should tell you about that at the beginning. If your lawyer takes the case and later decides to refer it to another lawyer or to associate with other lawyers, you should sign a new contract which includes the new lawyers. You, the client, also have the right to consult with each lawyer working on your case and each lawyer is legally responsible from the acts of the other lawyers involved in the case.
You, the client, have the right to know in advance how you will need to pay the expenses and the legal fees at the end of the case. If you pay a deposit in advance for costs, you may ask reasonable questions about how the money will be or has been spent and how much of it remains unspent. Your lawyer should give a reasonable estimate about future necessary costs. If your lawyer agrees to lend or advance you money to prepare or research the case, you have the right to know periodically how much money the lawyer has spent on your behalf. You also have the right to decide, after consulting with your lawyer, how much money is to be spent to prepare a case. If you pay the expenses, you have the right to decide how much to spend. Your lawyer should also inform you whether the fee will be based on the gross amount recovered or on the amount recovered, minus the costs.
You, the client, have the right to be told by your lawyer about possible adverse consequences if you lose the case. Those adverse consequences, might include money which you might have to pay your lawyer for costs and liability you might have for attorney’s fees to the other side.
You, the client, have the right to receive and approve a closing statement at the end of the case before your pay any money. The statement must list all of the financial details of the entire case, including the amount recovered, all expenses and a precise statement of your lawyer’s fee. Until you approve the closing statement, you need not pay any money to anyone, including your lawyer. You also have the right to have every lawyer or law firm working on your case sign this closing statement.
You, the client, have the right to ask your lawyer at reasonable intervals how the case is progressing and to have questions answered to the best of your lawyer’s ability.
You, the client, have the right to make the final decision regarding settlement of a case. Your lawyer must notify you of all offers of settlement before and after the trial, Offers during the trial must be immediately communicated and you should consult your lawyer regarding whether to accept a settlement. However, you must make the final decision to accept or reject a settlement.
If, at any time, you, the client, believes that your lawyer has charged an excessive or illegal fee, you, the client, have the right to report the matter to The Florida Bar, the agency that oversees the practice and behavior of all lawyers in Florida. For information on how to reach The Florida Bar call (850) 222-5286 or contact the local bar association. Any disagreement between you and your lawyer about a fee can be taken to court and you may wish to hire another lawyer to help you resolve this disagreement. Usually, fee disputes must be handled in a separate lawsuit.