Recommendations For Best Civil Suit Lawyers In NOVA?

If you are only trying to recover $30k your attorney fees will likely be at least 10X the suit amount for the best. Lawsuits are lose / lose situations almost all of the time. Forgiveness is your greatest weapon, and a quick settlement. Just my $0.02 from a person who just finished dealing with four lawsuits (on both sides). YMMV

BT

 

Depends on the issue. Which is?

That said, in VA (like most other jurisdictions), legal fees are prayed for. So, plaintiff's legal costs are paid for by the defendant IF the plaintiff is successful. So, rolling the dice depends on how confidently one feels. Especially, when the defendant also prays for recovery of legal costs.

Would recommend you get yourself a copy of Washingtonian's Best Attorneys issue. Also, contact wfo900.

CW

 

I've been sued three times, never lost (because I never deserved it). Never gone to court. Total of suits, $3M. Total settlements paid $5k. Total attorneys fees closer to $50k. It's very likely your respective attorneys will get into you for five figures posturing and then recommend you settle. Only winners are the attorneys. Only suits worth going to trial over are six figures and up. Otherwise you're just feeding the machine. Anything smaller and you should just put a couple or three suits together yourself in small claims court, if you're reasonably certain you'll win.

 

FWIW,

As an attorney I strongly counsel clients against suing private individuals unless (1) the claims for damages is very significant (2) there is a strong probability of success and (3) we can establish prior to engaging in any legal action that there are assets we can target to fulfill the claim for damages.

Absent small claims court, Legal fees in civil cases can be very substantial regardless of the damages sought, and even if the law requires a Defendant to pay Plaintiff's legal fees under a particular theory of relief, such a tool is worthless if the Defendant lacks the means to comply with the law or is judgment proof.


If you are considering bringing a legal action "on principle," don't.

Bringing a lawsuit should be a business decision based on an understanding of the opportunity costs, expenses, tolerance for risk, and benefit of success. "Principle" alone is a novelty best left for the very rich who can afford to spend 100K on legal fees without any lifestyle adjustment whatsoever. Otherwise, it is real easy on DAY 1, before you have spent a penny on fees to fantasize about the vengeance you are about to enact on your enemy through your skilled attorney. Seldom on day 434, when you have spent $50K in legal fees, are knee deep in discovery, with a trial date a year away, does that "principle" still hold true.


Just my .02

 

All of this is true, but it depends on the case, too. Have to get into it to make an informed judgment.

CW

 

I'm not an attorney, so this is just from my personal experience.

I think that kind of attorney is going to cost somewhere around $200 - $500 per hour.
So, think of it costing $2000 - $4000 per day.
And, your attorney may add to your case other specialized attorneys or support staff costs.
So, legal costs of $5k per week are an easy level of cost to hit.

Each of your $15k cases may take months to resolve.
That's why there probably is no money in it for you by pursuing it that way.

If there is a breach of a written agreement involved, it is worth having the document reviewed by an attorney.
Other than that, it doesn't sound practical for you to pay the legal fees for a full lawsuit, but only an attorney would know that.
.

 

I am a CPA, not an Attorney, but I would like to say without hesitation you all have just received, for free mind you, the very best of advice regarding suing by Counselor Zaff. To those who wish to go on in spite of that great advice, please, take a few minutes and stand in front of a strong fan blowing your way and have someone pour a gallon of horse wizz into the fan for your needed wakeup call. Otherwise, we will be reading here next year about how your attorney screwed you out of your life's savings via fees, for a case you now realize was about your ego and not the good business decision you should have made not to sue.

 

LOL I've heard a lot of metaphors relating to being screwed by legal fees.That's a new one. belly laugh.

Maybe the OP can set up the fan with the bucket of horse wizz and ding dong ditch his adversary. I'd get a LOT of gratification out of wishing that on four or five people around the country. That's just one of the best ones I've seen. Relatively harmless and just disgusting.

 

Also as an attorney, I give a +1 to the comments above. Additionally, unless it is a "simple" case (or there is a quick settlement), I find it hard to believe that your legal fees will be below your claim for relief. And while in some cases you may be able to recover legal fees from the defendant, this is not the standard rule.

 

FYI, I'm also an attorney.

CW

 

And, he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express before playing one on TV.

 

That, too.

Just figured since everyone on here has to state they're one...

CW

 

I think anyone giving advice on this particular thread with a legal background would be helpful to acknowledge it. Its not like we responded to a timebelt thread with the proclamation...I AM AN ATTORNEY.

Furthermore, I am pretty sure those who know me know I am loathe to publicly admit to being an attorney and if others hadn't already outed me years ago on this forum, I would still not have identified my occupation in my profile. However, since that cat is out of the bag, in this instance, and others like it, I think my background is entirely relevant to the basis of my viewpoint. Wouldn't you agree?

 

I am, also.

And, I do agree.

CW

 

my friends just call me sh*tbag shyster

 

+1. I also do not like pronouncing the fact, but figured it was relevant in this instance.

 

Well, that's an interesting POV.

You're in this for the money, right? And when you head off to work in the morning, you expect to get paid, right?

OH wait, are you one of those do-gooders who works charity?

Nah, didn't think so.


So, you call a lawyer, and ask him to sue someone for you, you expect him to do it for free? Maybe you'd like him to take it on a contingency fee?

C'mon dude, we all do what we do for money, even lawyers.

(Disclaimer - I'm not a lawyer, but some of my best friends are. )

DM

 

Some people do actually work for free not infrequently. Not always by choice but they do nonetheless.

 

I think in this case/thread, it is much more important for us, that are NOT attorneys, to say so.

I wouldn't want the OP (original poster) to think the info I was posting might be coming from an attorney.

If a person didn't say either way in this thread, it might be too easy for the OP to assume they were an attorney.

 

To the OP,

Ain't gonna be free. And, this does not sound like a contingency fee based engagement. So, you're writing checks, which means your warchest matters. As does the size of your opponent's. I am currently in the middle of three litigations (as a party), with a fourth one coming soon. Much of what has been stated by Zaff et al is true. I'm of the opinion that litigation can be worthwhile in this instance (perhaps, and depending), but it shouldn't be the first course of action. Even drafting a demand letter and having it sent on firm letterhead isn't inexpensive, however. It would show you're serious, but you really need to be able to back it up, if you need to. Otherwise, if the opposing party doesn't knuckle under, it's go time. That said, these are all tactical points at which your counsel will advise you. It's hard to give solid, applicable advice without knowing the issue(s), the parties, their willingness to fight and about a hundred other variables.

CW

 

Too bad there isn't legal insurance like medical insurance. In our society, there sure ought to be. But think about it like needing a doctor. You pay top dollar for a reason, when it makes sense, not when it doesn't. I go to the local urgent care for a strep test, but I'd do my research and find the best if I needed a triple bypass. Actually, I did my research and found the best hip guy in the business, meet him tomorrow for my pre-op. I guarantee I won't resent him for getting paid. You go through this a few times and you really get perspective. Helps to temper your, uh, temper based on what getting mad, and even, is really worth to you. Go sue him a few times in small claims court. You'll draw plenty of blood and get plenty of satisfaction, if you're right that is. In VA, it's $5k per case. Don't know what it is where you are, but if you have two cases and exact $5k a piece, you'll feel pretty good about that.

 

Why not simply file yourself in General District Court where the top Jurisdiction amount is $15,000. The procedures are simplified and the proceedings are quick. There is no Jury or lengthy discovery. If you are as correct as you feel you should be able to do OK. Sit down with a lawyer for an hour or so and make sure you have all of the points