Frequently Asked Questions

At The Meyers Law Firm you will find a courteous and professional staff. Meeting a law firm for the first time can be a distressing experience, and we will do our best to make you comfortable. Our staff and attorneys reserve plenty of time to meet with new clients to discuss potential cases. Having documents at our disposal is beneficial, so we always suggest that new clients bring pertinent paperwork.

The majority of the cases we handle involve a contingent fee contract. That means we do not get paid until and unless our client makes a recovery. Generally, our fees will be a percentage of the recovery computed before deducting expenses. In some circumstances, we will represent a client on an hourly basis if the case calls for such a contract, in which case a retainer agreement may be made. In either instance, the full details of the fee and cost agreement you have with our firm will be explained to you in detail before we begin prosecuting your case.

This will depend on the fee and cost agreement that is agreed to in your case. Where we are handling a case on a contingent fee basis, we advance expenses incurred during our representation. In that situation, our fee will be a percentage of the recovery computed before deducting expenses. If and when the case reaches a successful conclusion, the costs we have expended are returned to us out of your recovery.

A lawsuit generally involves an initial pleading phase, a discovery phase, a dispositive motion phase, and the trial. The discovery phase of a lawsuit is the time when counsel for both sides work to “discover” the objective facts in a lawsuit. The first stage of discovery is written – the attorney on each side submits questions (“interrogatories”) and receives written answers, as well as requests for the production of key documents. Although your attorney is ultimately responsible for completion of written discovery, your participation will be required in answering certain questions asked by opposing counsel.

The second stage of discovery is the process during which depositions are conducted. A “deposition” is when a party must answer questions under oath about the circumstances involved in the lawsuit. If your case proceeds to discovery, you nearly always will be deposed by opposing counsel. Your deposition will take place in our office, with your attorney present. We will prepare you for your deposition, review the facts of your case with you, and answer any questions you may have.

If your case proceeds to trial, your attendance at trial will be required, as well as your testimony likely at some point during the trial.

For those cases which proceed all the way through to a jury trial, the process generally takes between one to two years, depending upon the circumstances involved in each particular case and the court within which the case is filed.

Statistics prove that most cases get resolved prior to going to trial. Regardless, we prepare every case as if it might ultimately be decided by a jury. We believe in being prepared in the event that an agreement between the parties cannot be reached. By the time a case is ready for trial, our clients will have spent a great deal of time with the lawyers and support staff in our firm. You will know what to expect if and when your case goes to trial.

Deciding when to accept or reject a settlement offer is rarely an easy decision. Our lawyers will advise you of the pros and cons of trying your case versus settling it before trial. We will do our best to help you decide whether a settlement offer is a fair one, but the decision is ultimately yours.

The word “tort” comes from the Latin word for “wrong”. The tort system typically refers to the court system’s handling of personal injury negligence and similar cases.

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