Frequently Asked Legal Questions

Legal Information You Need to Know.

 

What should I do if I want to change attorneys and have Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers represent me?

Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers will not interfere with the attorney-client contractual relationship between you and your current attorney.  We will only be able to ethically discuss your case once you notify your current attorney in writing that you no longer want him or her to represent you on your case.

What is a “local counsel” and does Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers act as “local counsel”?

A "local counsel' is an attorney hired to assist the primary attorney with a case outside of the primary attorneys home county.  The "local counsel" should provide the primary attorney with expertise of a particular court's policies and rules as well as local knowledge regarding the attitudes of the community.  Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers regularly serves as "local counsel" in Galveston state and federal courts.  "Local counsel" fees depend on the amount of involvement and do not affect the amount of fee paid by the client.

What is a deposition and what is involved?

Generally, the plaintiff can expect to have his or her deposition taken by the defense. This 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. Burwell Nebout attorneys make sure that you 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 in a fair and proper manner.

What are interrogatories and why do I need to complete them?

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 period specified by the court's procedural rules. Complete and accurate answers are very important in response to any discovery question, and the attorneys and legal assistants at Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers will work with you to make sure everything is handled properly.

What is an expert witness and how much do they cost?

An expert witness is an individual who has some specialized knowledge in a specific area that the common person does not have. In most cases handled by Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers, expert testimony is required by law.  Experts do charge for their time and expertise in any given field. However, like all other legal costs, Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers advances these expenses and you do not reimburse Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers until and unless recovery is made in your case.

Why should I speak to a legal assistant?

The legal assistants at Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers will more often be available to discuss your case with you than your attorney. They are educated and trained to assist the attorney as 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 for whom they work.

What does a legal assistant do?

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 reviewing your file, everything they do is extremely important in the effort to achieve our commitment to be prepared to win each and every case at the courthouse.

What happens if I do not want to have a court trial?

Your attorney will negotiate the best possible settlement of your case and recommend that you to accept it.

Do I have to attend court throughout my trial?

Yes, without exception.

How long will my trial last?

Each and every case is different. The length of your trial depends on many factors, some of them include the number of witnesses to testify, the number of parties to the suit, number of exhibits to introduce into evidence and the court's schedule.

How much is my case worth?

This question cannot be answered before the case is investigated and each case must be evaluated on an individual basis. The attorneys at Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers are experienced in evaluating cases and will give their opinion after a full investigation has been completed. However, an exact dollar amount or a guarantee will not be given at any time.

How much will legal representation cost me?

Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers takes cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not bill our clients by the hour for legal representation.  Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers only gets paid its fee and reimbursement of expenses when a recovery is made in your case. If no recovery is made, no fees or expenses are paid.