What, if anything, do I do for our attorney & his firm?

Question

Our lawyer has had the medical malpractice case for 10 years and 5 years ago we went to trial and lost. We appealed to the Florida Supreme Court and they ordered a re-trial, which we will finally have next week.

We weren't very happy with our lawyers performance in the first trial and requested that one of the partners represent us for the appeal and the next trial. The first lawyer is going to be present, as well as the partner and a few paralegals.

My question is, if we win, what do I do for the firm? There are many people that worked on the case and it is a huge firm so I'm kinda over-whelmed. What do I do if the jury doesn't rule in our favor?

I don't want to do nothing since I got to hand it to them for what we've accomplished so far, but we are just like everyone else trying to make it from pay check to pay check.

Answer 1

Yeah, that is very hard because you feel bad if you don't do something, but you dont want to do something that huge because it is hard especially in todays economy. I would probably just write some thank you cards as well as maybe some small gift certificates for local restruants for them (10 to 15 bucks each) good luck though, I know it can be hard in situations like this.  

Answer 2

Write a nice thank you letter.  Seriously.  We get flowers, food, etc. from vendors all the time.  What we don't get very often is a really heartfelt acknowledgement of the work we've put into your case.

Answer 3

Aren't they charging you for their legal help?  If they are, that's all you owe them.  Usually you'll have signed some sort of engagement agreement saying this is what you'll pay (either per hour by attorney plus costs) or when the trial is won the law firm will take a certain percentage of the amount won.  And both of those things can amount to HUGE amounts.  You don't need to tip them for doing their job.  You don't need to bring them gifts (although if you want you give a particular attorney that went beyond to make you feel assured something, a nice bottle of good wine is fine).  If they win your case and get a hefty fee, the attorneys and paralegals involved will all get bonuses from the firm (it will also enhance their public relations image).  Bake them a cake.

Answer 4

you do nothing- it contingency lawyering.