In cases that are clearly heading for jury trials, law firms benefit by retaining Haines & Associates as lead counsel. With Clifford Haines' commanding experience in jury trials, firms greatly improve the chances of positive outcomes for their clients.

For those unfamiliar with the litigation process, here are the basics.

1. We evaluate the claim.

  You come to our office for a meeting so that we can go over the details of the legal issues you are having.  After this meeting—and upon gathering additional information—we evaluate your case and make a determination about whether the Firm will represent you.

2. We formalize our relationship in writing.

  If you are contacting us to review a contract and provide advice, then clearly a lawsuit does not need to be filed.  We will attempt at the beginning of the relationship with you to clearly outline what the expectations are regarding our counsel, and will provide this “Engagement Letter” to you for your review and comment prior to entering into a formal attorney/client relationship, which will occur only after you and the firm have signed the final version of the “Engagement Letter.”

3. We file a suit on your behalf.

  If you are coming to our firm because of a dispute, it is important that you understand that under some circumstances, we will not initiate a lawsuit until we have made an attempt to settle your case amicably.  It may be necessary, however, to bring a lawsuit because of a variety of factors.

4. We enter the Discovery Phase.

  After a lawsuit has been initiated, both sides have the right to obtain information about the claims made during the “Discovery Phase.”  This may require you to answer written questions called “interrogatories.”  Either party’s attorney may submit interrogatories and they must be answered in writing under oath.  We generally complete the questions to the best of our ability and then mail them to you for additional clarification or detail.  You then mail the interrogatories back to us, along with a signed verification indicating that the answers are true and correct to the best of your knowledge.  Then we file your answers with the Court.

During the discovery process, you will likely be asked to give a deposition—testimony given under oath in the presence of attorneys and a court stenographer who records your answers and creates “notes of testimony” that can later be used at trial.  We will help you prepare for depositions and answer any questions you may have regarding the process.  It will be our task to find a mutually convenient time to schedule the deposition for you and the defendant.

You will not be the only one answering interrogatories or giving deposition testimony.  Prior to trial, Haines & Associates will also send interrogatories to defendants and take the depositions of witnesses, defendants and other parties with knowledge of the allegations made.  Generally, both interrogatories and depositions help us and the defendants investigate the facts of your case.

5. We go to arbitration/trial.

  If after concluding the discovery process we are unable to settle your case, we will proceed to trial.  Before doing so, we spend a great deal of time on detailed preparation and it may be necessary for you to come to our offices to help us prepare.  It is necessary for you to attend the trial, and you are given advanced notice of the trial date so you can make appropriate arrangements.