ITEMIZATION OF BILLING PRACTICES
RETAINER
A $2,500.00 initial fee retainer is required for new clients. Work will not begin until retainer is received.
Retaining attorney, adjuster, or company is responsible for payment of SECA's statement. We do not work for the client of retaining attorney .
RATES
Specifically requested assignment of case to Mr. Beaver will be billed at $200.00 per hour plus all related expenses.
Staff Reconstructionist - Basic Hourly Rate is $150.00 plus all related expenses.
Associate Labor - $75.00 per hour - Associates, IPTM trained and ACTAR qualified, are used to expedite the collection of data.
Weekend work per your request - $300.00 per hour. The basic hourly rate is charged if we choose to work the weekend.
File analysis only - $350.00 minimum
Expedited work - $300.00 per hour.
Charges are portal to portal. If an overnight stay is required, the client is billed for actual working hours and return time on final day of the trip.
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
Expenses charged, but not limited to:
Film, developing, and enlargement cost * Mileage at 50 cents per mile * Airfare or other transportation * Car rentals and associated services * Cost of preparing any specialized demonstrative evidence exhibits * Meals * Lodging on overnight trips * Photocopying * Postage * Telephone and facsimile charges * Administrative Labor at $20.00 per hour
REPRODUCTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
Photographs, when requested for or by opposing counsel, are billed at $1.30 each.
BILLING STATEMENTS
(Payment is due within ten (10) days of receipt.)
DEPOSITIONS AND CHARGES
PAYMENT IS DUE PRIOR TO DAY OF DEPOSITION
A four hour minimum ($600.00) is charged for deposition testimony. Should the deposition time extend beyond three hours, each portion of an hour is billed at the basic hourly rate. Maximum sitting time for a deposition is limited to six hours. We will adjourn and reconvene at a mutually agreeable time and place.
Deposition travel time is portal to portal at the basic hourly rate. If it is requested that we travel to the deposition location, the retaining attorney is responsible for travel time unless he has arranged for opposing counsel to pay the travel fee. This is too often a debated point, please have it worked out in advance.
Retaining attorney is charged for time
required to read and sign deposition.
COURT APPEARANCES
A full eight hour day is charged at the normal rate for court appearances,
as the day must be blocked out. If we travel to a trial location and must
standby for more than one day, we will endeavor to spend that time in pre-trial
preparation. You will be billed an eight hour minimum for each day of
trial standby time.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
DEPOSITIONS FORWARDED
Please send single page, regular print copies of depositions. DO NOT SEND MIN-U-SCRIPTS. When depositions have exhibits, please send copies of the exhibits. If the transcripts are available in a digital format, please forward a copy ALONG WITH the printed version. WordPerfect format is preferred.
PHOTOGRAPHS FORWARDED
Please send 8 x10 original photographs or 8 x 10 laser photographs if originals are not available. Digital photographs should be in a non-proprietary format on CD-ROM.
DEADLINES
Please keep us posted of deadlines, ESPECIALLY DISCOVERY DEADLINES . We make every effort to accommodate our clients schedules. Our calendar is booked at least eight weeks in advance.
Please do not send any official correspondence via e-mail. The most effective way to transmit official correspondence with Southeast Collision Analysis is via U.S. Mail, UPS, or FedEx. E-mail is checked daily, but response delays may occur when we are in the field.
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS
Due to the nature of our work, reconstructionists are often in the field. However, they contact the office daily to receive messages. Your phone call will be returned as promptly as possible. In case of urgent matters, the office staff will endeavor to contact us.
REPORTS
It is not our policy to routinely prepare reports. However, we will be
glad to do so upon request. If you desire a report, please advise us at
the outset of the case or at the appropriate time.
