| FAQ |
Step 1. Choosing or Changing Attorneys
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Don't be afraid to ask your attorney how experienced he or she is in the area of law of your legal problems. Ask how many years he or she has been practicing, what percentage of his time is devoted to cases like yours, how many trials the attorney has been involved in, etc.. It is important that you feel comfortable with the attorney you choose. |
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It is important to hire an attorney who has knowledge of and experience in the specific area involved in your case. Ask the attorney questions about his or her experience in the area you need help; if he or she won't spend time with you to answer your questions, find an attorney who will. If he or she does not appear to know much about your problem area, this is probably not the right attorney for your case. |
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Both types of attorneys have an "association" with one another's firms. Attorneys in an of-counsel relationship only refer cases to each other depending upon their areas of expertise. Those in a co-counsel position assist on a more involved basis such as providing personnel in preparation for trial. |
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Ad Litem means "friend of the court" and is used to refer to the person who is appointed by the court to represent a minor or incompetent person's interest. An attorney Ad Litem, who must be a licensed attorney, is appointed to litigate the matter on behalf of the minor or incompetent person. A Guardian Ad Litem, who is not required to be an attorney, is appointed to look after their best interest but not actively litigate on his or her behalf. |
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Johnson Law Group will not interfere with the attorney-client contractual relationship between you and your current attorney. Johnson Law Group will only be able to discuss your case with you ethically once you first raise the issue of changing attorneys with your present attorney, and then notify him or her in writing that you no longer want him or her to represent you on your case. |
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Yes, there inevitably will be delays when changing attorneys. It is not good for your case to change attorneys too many times, since parts or all of your file can be lost. Also, it sends an unfavorable message about your case to the other side. |
Step 2. Preparing the Case
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A mock trial is a learning exercise for a trial team in which a jury hears the evidence of a case. The trial team learns about the jury's attitudes, preferences and opinions through this process, and can then determine the best way to present that case to the actual jury that will hear the evidence when it goes to trial. |
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No, not for every case. Since we have taken many different types of cases to trial, we generally know what works and what doesn't. However, there are more unusual cases that require investigation into how to best present it at trial. |
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Johnson Law Group pays all expenses required to get the case ready for trial, and is only reimbursed if there is a recovery in the case. So, if there is a recovery, the client will reimburse Johnson Law Group for the mock trial out of that recovery. |
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In most cases, the plaintiff can expect to have his or her deposition taken. This simply means that the attorney(s) representing the parties sued in your lawsuit will have the opportunity to ask you questions under oath before the case goes to trial. Johnson Law Group attorneys make sure that our clients are fully prepared and familiar with the process before it begins. An attorney will be with you for your entire deposition to ensure that the deposition is conducted fairly and properly. |
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Interrogatories are usually the first discovery tool used in a case. They are questions presented by one side to the other which must be answered under oath within a time period specified by the court's procedural rules. Complete and accurate answers are very important in response to any discovery question, and the attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants at Johnson Law Group will work with you to make sure everything is handled properly. |
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No later than thirty days prior to the start of trial, all parties have the opportunity to change and/or amend their answers to any and all discovery. This opportunity is vitally important to your case as your discovery response must be complete and accurate. Interrogatory answers are your testimony and must be consistent with your deposition testimony and other discovery responses you and/or your witnesses have given in your case. |
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An independent medical examination (IME) is a medical examination by an independent doctor intended to give an unbiased medical picture of the plaintiff. In some cases, if there is more than one defendant or if special circumstances exist, more than one IME may be required. |
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The party requesting the examination, which is almost always the defendant. If the plaintiff is asked to be responsible for this expense, it will be handled like all the other legal costs on the case ? Johnson Law Group will pay all expenses required to get the case ready for trial, and will only be reimbursed if there is a recovery in the client's case. So, if there is recovery, the client reimburses Johnson Law Group for this expense out of that recovery. |
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An expert witness is an individual who has some specialized knowledge in a specific area that the common person does not have. In most of the cases handled by Johnson Law Group, expert testimony is required by law. Like most people, experts charge for their time, and they do so by the hour. However, like all other legal costs, Johnson Law Group advances these expenses and you do not reimburse Johnson Law Group until and unless a recovery is made in your case. |
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The legal assistants at Johnson Law Group will more often be available to discuss your case with you than your attorney. They are educated and trained to assist the attorney, and they play a vital role in the development of our files. You should work with the legal assistants because they are speaking with you at the direction of the attorney they work for. |
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Legal assistants do everything they can to assist the attorney in getting the case ready for trial and presenting the case to the court or jury at trial. Whether it is gathering information from the client, communicating with your doctors, or simply reviewing the file, everything they do is extremely important in the effort to achieve our common goal, to be prepared to win each and every case at the courthouse. |
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Johnson Law Group hires law students from law schools throughout the state to assist the attorneys in the preparation of the cases. Depending on how much law school they have completed, law students can be very helpful in the preparation of a case. What is the difference between a legal assistant and a paralegal? According to the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas, the terms "paralegal" and "legal assistant" are interchangeable (in the same way that "attorney" and "lawyer" are interchangeable). Under the supervision of an attorney, a qualified legal assistant can handle almost every task in the preparation of your case except give legal advice and represent you in court. Most legal assistants have advanced education and training and continually update their knowledge and skills. A legal assistant works "hand in hand" with the attorney toward successful resolution of your case. |
Step 3. Going to Trial
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Your attorney will negotiate the best possible settlement of your case and recommend that you accept it. |
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In the case of civil trials, unless otherwise ordered by the judge, all verdicts are available to the public and are retained by the district clerk's office. |
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Yes, without exception. |
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Each case is different, as the length of a trial depends on many factors, some of which include the number of witnesses to testify, the number of parties to the suit, the number of exhibits to introduce into evidence and the court's schedule. |
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Each court sets its own schedule. Most courts begin their trial day between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. each day. A safe rule of thumb is plan to arrive 30 minutes early every day. |
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When it is time for you to go to the courthouse, your attorney and/or his or her staff will make sure you know where to go, how to get there and where to park. |
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That always depends on the type of case being heard by the jury and the county where the case is being tried. As a general rule, however, it is best to dress in such a way to show respect for the court. This usually means a suit or coat and tie. However, in some counties, slacks or pants and a clean, pressed shirt are acceptable. Jeans, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts and sandals should never be worn to court. |
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No, you may only speak to your attorney, except when testifying and when asked a question by the judge. |
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Generally, no. Some courts allow water at the counsel table; others may allow canned non-alcoholic beverages. Food is never allowed in the courtroom. The rules of each court dictate which, if any, beverages are permitted in the courtroom. |
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Everyone except the court's bailiff is prohibited from speaking with the jurors. This includes offerings of food, drinks, gum, sweaters, coats, and the like, and applies to all parties, including attorneys and their assistants, witnesses, spectators, etc. |
Step 4. Appeals and Remands
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Either party can appeal the judgment in a case. Johnson Law Group is will appoint an of Counsel for the sole purpose of handling these appeals. In many instances, the attorney-client contract provides for an additional percentage to the law firm if an appeal is filed. |
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The attorney-client contract with our clients states that Johnson Law Group will receive an additional percentage fee for filing and handling or responding to an appeal. |
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"Reversed and Remanded" is a term used by the appellate courts to describe the decision it made on a case. This particular decision means that the court found some error at the trial which leaves no alternative but for the case to have a new trial. While the attorneys with Johnson Law Group want the judge in every case to rule correctly on all matters, that does not always happen, and Johnson Law Group cannot guarantee a specific result. |
Step 5. Costs and Monetary Awards
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Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered before the case is investigated, since each case must be evaluated on an individual basis. The attorneys at Johnson Law Group are experienced in evaluating cases and will give you their opinion after an investigation has been completed. However, an exact dollar amount or a guaranteed amount will not be given at any time. |
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Johnson Law Group takes cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not charge our clients by the hour for legal representation. Johnson Law Group only gets paid its fees and reimbursement of expenses when a recovery is made in your case. If no recovery is made, no fees or expenses are paid. |
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No. You only pay for expenses if a recovery is made in your case. |
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It takes much more time and effort to prepare a case for trial and to take it to trial than it does to settle, so our fee increases for trial cases. |
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It depends. If your case has been settled, your settlement can be paid only after the settlement papers have been signed and the funds have been deposited into Johnson Law Group's trust account. If a law suit must be filed, it may be 18 months or more before a settlement can be achieved or a jury award obtained. Even then, the losing party may appeal the jury's decision, which may mean it will take longer for you to receive your award. |
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Usually, but not always. Sometimes clients prefer to have their settlements paid in one lump sum, while others prefer to receive their settlement checks monthly or yearly. Feel free to consult with your attorney on this issue. |
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Settlements, which are usually paid by check or bank draft, are deposited into Johnson Law Group's trust account upon receipt. No checks can be written from the trust account until the settlement check has cleared the bank. After the check clears, the client receives his or her money, and then the attorneys' fees and expenses are paid or reimbursed. |
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Johnson Law Group does not and cannot give tax advice. Please ask your certified tax accountant all of your questions regarding taxes. |
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