We represent our clients on a contingent fee basis. This means that we charge a percentage of any recovery that we obtain on your behalf, whether through settlement, arbitration or trial. The percentage is normally between 30% and 45%, depending upon the type of case.

Costs are incurred in the course of representing our clients. These costs include obtaining copies of medical records, taking depositions, filing fees, photocopies, telephone charges, expenses for expert witnesses, travel, and other items. If you are unable to pay costs as your case progresses, we will advance the costs, which will be deducted from your share of any settlement, award or judgment. For example, if you were to settle your case for $100,000, and our contingent fee was 35%, we would be paid a fee of $35,000 and your share would be $65,000. From that $65,000 we would then deduct any expenses we had advanced on your behalf. If your case results in no settlement or compensation for you, you are required at that time to pay any expenses that we had advanced on your behalf, but you will not be required to pay any attorney fee, regardless of how much time we might have spent on your case. If you are unable to pay the expenses all at once, we can discuss a monthly payment schedule or other alternative arrangements. Fortunately this happens rarely, in part, because we try very hard to the evaluate and screen cases early and would not bring a case for you without believing in your claim and your right to compensation.

We represent clients in class actions on a contingent fee basis, also, and our fees are carefully scrutinized by the Courts to make sure they are fair to the class. Clients who are willing to serve as class representatives are not responsible for advancing any costs because Washington Rules for Professional Responsibility permit attorneys to advance such costs in order to prosecute class actions.

Our bookkeeper can let you know at any time the amount of expenses that have been advanced on your behalf. We can provide you with the total advanced and the specific expenses that are involved.

In all contingent fee cases we are required to obtain a written fee agreement from you. It will state specific terms of the contingent fee, including the advancing of expenses, and address other issues, such as use of other attorneys to assist with your case.