Higher billing rates for litigation work?
Higher billing rates for litigation work?
(OP)
Is there a particular reason why higher billing rates are used/expected for deposition and testimony in court?
Maybe just "why not?" because the lawyers are billing out at $300/hour or whatever their rate is.
-Jim
Maybe just "why not?" because the lawyers are billing out at $300/hour or whatever their rate is.
-Jim





RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
Interesting question, I have a different day/hourly rate for depositions or for working is support of a litgated scenario - it's slightly higher. I don't get allot of that type work, but occasionally I do and no one questions it.
But I'm not sure why the rate is higher now that I think about it, I suppose because I have always seen those rates a little higher with other consultants????????
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
I've got a friend who absolutely thrives on being on the stand in front of a jury and he actively seeks out lawyers to be an expert witness (his hourly rate for testifying is higher than mine, so it looks to me like you can charge anything you want). He is so self confident (cocky?) that he comes across as totally believable. I do OK, but I don't love it.
David
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
csd
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
You won't loose your license if you state that in "your professional opinion ....". Courts know that experts offer opinions, not facts. In most states you cannot sue an expert witness for anything they say on the witness stand. Experts are hardly ever called on for facts, they are called on for professional opinions. The other side will have experts that may offer different opinions. The court or jury will decide who they want to believe. To be a good witness you must put what facts there are together and offer an interpritatin of facts or sequences of events that are not necessarly directly supported by facts.
Good attorneys do the theroizing and call on your opinion to back up their case.
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
That is interesting, maybe I'm taking this too seriously after all. I'll still charge more for testimony because I can.
David
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: Higher billing rates for litigation work?
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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