Average cost of litigation

roybean · 08-26-2006, 07:04 PM

If memory serves as I am not finding the stats I collected, the average cost of civil litigation is around 20,000.00, correct?

Qtip · 08-26-2006, 07:05 PM

Wao, really? No wonder they usually rather settle lol

roybean · 08-26-2006, 07:12 PM

That's why you make their azzes work!
I actually think it is more...I am just estimating. Lawyers bill for every phone call, fax, email, letter, everything, by the hour and from what I understand, if they spend 1 hour in court, it is supposed to be 3 hours of research and preparation. IT ADDS UP! Even with a cheap one like the botch I am dealing with.....

Another reason why we as pro se'ers need to fight for fees and every bit of cost because they wanna string us along, but when the threat of paying attorney fees is in the picture, the settle up with the quickness.

BTW: I think that's why the botch is stressing right now. He thought I would have given up by now and I am hanging with his behind. I know his clients are probably like, "You said you'd dispose of this case and now you want more money." And the smaller the company I am sure they are pressuring him to get done; re the settlement offer I just got.

Pale Rider · 08-26-2006, 07:14 PM

http://www.bilateral.com/ss.php

Not sure if this site is accurate. Use the drop down menu to find your state.

centex · 08-26-2006, 07:15 PM

Are you looking for median average or are you looking for a mean? Average at the median will be inflated by tobacco and other pharmaceutical litigation.

You also have to factor in many other elements. A majority of cases settle long before $20K in expense has been racked up. Even when I had a writ of sequestration that dragged out four months, I doubt that the parties racked up total expenses beyond a few thousand...I know that mine were roughly a grand, and that was with me seeing billing at close to $200 per hour.

roybean · 08-26-2006, 07:18 PM

Median average and I had some stats specifically for civil I think it did include medical suits though, but I think it is on the other hard drive. I can't find it.

centex · 08-26-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roybean

That's why you make their azzes work!
I actually think it is more...I am just estimating. Lawyers bill for every phone call, fax, email, letter, everything, by the hour and from what I understand, if they spend 1 hour in court, it is supposed to be 3 hours of research and preparation. IT ADDS UP! Even with a cheap one like the botch I am dealing with.....

Not all counsel works on an hourly basis, which removes the individual time component out of the equation. Also, if you are looking at what the other party is incurring, you need to determine whether they are staff or retainer. Oh, and the 1:3 is not an absolute either...that is more accurate when issues are presented that actually require work. Most of what gets tossed around on the web does not require a lot of effort.