Litigation Consulting
What is an Expert Witness?
An expert witness is a person with special wisdom, proficiency, or understanding in a particular subject about which he/she is to bear witness. Testimony given by such a observer, in his/her capacity as such, constitutes expert evidence or expert testimony. A person is not considered to be an Expert Witness, until they are declared as such by a court. This is why we use the term Litigation Consultant
Who would need an Expert Witness?
Persons problem solving with particular issues related to either faulty or neglectful work done by a contractor / sub contractor, material men or supplier of services related to the construction of a building or flawed or careless services provided by a home inspector or real estate agent.
If I have a problem with a Builder or Contractor what should I do?
First and foremost contact your Attorney and until advised do not terminate your contractor. Second keep an accurate record and timetable of all correspondence and there subject matter. Keep calm and cool and try not to take the matter at hand personal, after all it is a business deal. Most of all hire a professional inspector to examine the work and all documents.
What services can I expect from an Expert Witness?
Some of the services a litigation consultant and expert witness provides depend on the type of case. Typically there are several types of complaints that are of a concern to clients, they are; defects or deficiencies, deviations from plans and specifications, punch list items not addressed, claims of lien, delay and warranty problems. A expert can review all of the contract documents, do a full evaluation of the property and render an opinion with written reports, pictures, calculate a dollar figure for cost to correct items and testify in court. Each case must be taken individually.
How much does this cost?
Litigation Consultant charges, are a fee per hour plus travel and related expenses. Currently Scott Patterson charges $225 per hour plus expenses (Travel, Lodging, etc.), this is for non-court or deposition time. Depositions and Court work have a four hour minimum requirement. All litigation related work will normally require a retainer. The average retainer fee is $1,500 to $2500 depending on the anticipated work.
Litigation Consultant & Desk Review
Many times attorneys want to know if they have a defendable case before the process starts. We can review the issue at hand and give you an informed opinion as to the merit of the case. For this type of work we require all available documents. Fees for this review service are normally in the $750 to $950 range. In some instances the fee for this service might be higher, depending on the complexity of the issues at hand. This specialized service has been one of our most widely requested service.