| |
Frequently Asked
Questions:
I am seeking an attorney to take
my case on a contingency basis? Will you do that?
We only accept cases on a contingency basis, that is, where we are paid
on a percentage of the amount that is recovered, on auto accident cases,
personal injury cases or collection cases. In such cases there is
a sum of money to collect against - usually an insurance policy so we
are guaranteed to get paid when you win your case. In all other
cases, however, there is no fund of money to collect against, thus there
is no guarantee of payment. In some instances, we can accept a
case on a lower hourly rate combined with a smaller contingency rate or
payment can be arranged on a flat fee basis. Call our office to
get more details on any of these types of plans.
I am in the process of buying a
new business and everything is being handled through the seller's
attorney. Should I still get my own lawyer?
It is always advantageous to hire a lawyer to represent your interests
just from the standpoint that YOUR lawyer is going to look out for your
best interests and the other lawyer will not. A smart lawyer on
the other side, will usually include a clause in any contract that says
you were advised to get your own attorney and that you waive any
claims that may arise because you did not hire one. Our fees are
more than reasonable. Often for only $500 to $700, we can review
your documents to make sure you are protected in any transaction.
Many of our fraud law suits came about after someone got scammed because
they did not get good legal advice up front before stepping into a
transaction.
I am just starting my own business
and, though I know my product well and am great at sales and promotion,
I don't have a clue on how to run my business. Can A. Singer &
Associates help me?
One of our areas of specialty is assisting new or ongoing businesses
to get organized and take care of the key management issues that they
need. Our In-house counsel program was designed to assist you with
consistent and regular legal assistance for any of your business issues
at an affordable cost. Starting as low as $500 a month, you can
have an attorney available on a moment's notice to assist you in getting
a sales order finalized, resolving an employee conflict, or even
resolving a problem with the local tax board. Whatever the issue,
its great to know you have an attorney available with just a phone call
or email.
I'm in a dispute with my neighbor over
the property line which he is trying to change after more than 15 years
of it being the same way. Can I file suit just to scare him off
and push him to work out a compromise?
Filing a law suit is a serious business and there are penalties and
consequences for filing something that is not legitimate. Even if
you have a valid basis for the suit, withdrawing the case or dismissing
it early, can result in costs being awarded to the opposing side and
even possibly them being awarded attorney fees as well. We can
better assist you by negotiating with your neighbor to work out
either a compromise or mutually agreeable settlement so that a law suit
isn't necessary. We always do a free initial consultation. Take
advantage of it to find out what is the best way to proceed. We will let
you know up front what to expect and if litigation is a cost effective
and good solution for you.
I was injured in a car accident
recently. What should I do to prepare to meet with an attorney?
You are wise to speak to an attorney as quickly as possible following
any kind of accident. We can tell you what you should do, what
information you should collect, and the steps you need to follow to set
up your case. At A. Singer and
Associates, our attorneys will assist you every step of
the way from getting all claims filed and, hopefully, getting you a
quick and easy settlement as quickly as possible.
If a law
suit is the only option, what can we expect the process to be?
A law suit follows certain pre-set procedures and can take anywhere from
one year up to 3 or more years depending on the County where the law
suit is filed. The law suit initiates with the filing of a
complaint which lays out all of the facts and the legal issues of the
action. There are often multiple motions that are filed in a case
than can range from attempts to dismiss the complaint (demurrer) to
discovery motions and other requests for court assistance.
Discovery is a process that goes on for months and includes written
requests as well as depositions. When all information is gathered,
then the case will go to trial unless the parties are successful in
negotiating a settlement.
How long do I have to file
a law suit?
All civil cases are limited by what is called the statutes of
limitation, which means that the case must be filed with the court
before the set time period for that type of case has expired. In
California, a case for breach of a written contract must be brought
within 4 years and for a verbal contract 2 years. It is very
important that your case be brought before the time period
expires.
Can my case be settled out of court?
A high percentage of civil cases are settled before the case goes to
trial. In every law suit, there will be opportunities to discuss
settlement. In many instances, it may be in your best interest to resolve
the matter before trial as, not only is trial extremely expensive, but
parties are usually very motivated to settle the closer you get to the
trial date. A. Singer and
Associates are experienced litigators who will advise you
when settlement is appropriate as well as how much is reasonable
What is alternative dispute resolution?
Alternative dispute resolution is a means to resolve your legal issues
through a private means rather than through the legal system. Most
common is mediation, where the parties meet informally with an
independent third party to see if the case can be settled.
Arbitration is an informal trial also held before an independent third
party. Witnesses still give testimony and evidence is presented,
just like in court, but it is more informal, and usually can occur more
quickly.
What is the different between suing in Small Claims court or suing in
Superior Court?
Small claims is the fastest way to resolve any legal dispute but is
limited in amount. The most you can claim in a small claims action
is $7500 ($5000 if you are a corporation.) The other drawback is
that you cannot have an attorney represent you in small claims
court. Thus, if your case involves more than $7500 in damages (or
involves a claim other than money damages) you must bring it in superior
court. These are all issues that you can discuss with your
attorney. Make an appointment for a free initial consultations to
get these questions answered.
To schedule
a free initial consultation, contact us at 818-597-7700.
Office hours
are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our office is off the
101 Freeway, halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, in Westlake
Village, California.
A.
Singer & Associates, Inc.
31238 Via Colinas, 2nd Floor
Westlake Village, California 91362
Telephone: 818-597-7700
Fax: 818-597-9917
Map
and Directions
|
|
|
|
|
