Simpson-Moore

If your case is important to you, selecting the right lawyer is as important as a parent picking the right nanny to care for their newborn, or an NFL coach scouting for the right quarterback.  If you don't pick the best lawyer for your case, the consequences can be very unfortunate.  

If you have been harmed due to the careless or intentional acts of another individual or business, you can choose a trial lawyer or a settlement lawyer.  Both of these lawyers can negotiate a settlement for your case, but a trial lawyer has the potential to obtain a larger settlement.  This is because the insurance companies and their lawyers know the difference between a trial lawyer and a settlement lawyer -- a trial lawyer creates at least two risks that insurance companies do not like:  first, there is the risk a judge or jury will award the full value for the case, which is usually more than the conservative "compromised" amount the insurance company will offer to pay without risk of trial; second, trial means the insurance company's lawyer will have to go to court, which takes time away from the office and costs more money.   Settlement lawyers can get you a settlement, but the insurance company knows they are settlement lawyers so they pay a smaller amount because the settlement lawyer doesn't have the trial track record that causes the insurance people to fear risking more money in trial.  Even though only a small percentage of cases actually go to trial, you want the insurance company to know your lawyer WILL take the case to trial if the settlement offer is not enough to fairly cover your damages. 

So how do you tell the difference between a trial lawyer and a settlement lawyer?  It's easy, and there are several ways to do it.  First, you can go on line and look for accomplishments and testimonials -- any reputable trial lawyer has information available on the internet.  Next, ask every lawyer you interview for the name of 2 - 3 clients for whom they have handled similar cases.  Every experienced trial lawyer should be able to give you the name and number for past clients he or she has helped obtain a good verdict in the recent past.  Finally, ask each lawyer you interview for the name and case number for 2-3 cases in which they have  obtained favorable  verdicts in the recent past.  With the case number, you can walk over to court and look at the clerk's file (available to the public to see for free), and look at the official Verdict and pleadings (i.e. trial brief, trial motions etc.) that will provide some of the most reliable information confirming that this trial lawyer has indeed been successful in the court room.

You wouldn't trust your children with a nanny you didn't check out.  You wouldn't want a quarterback on your team that can't throw the ball or hasn't been on the football field recently.  Just the same, make sure your important legal case is handled by a trial lawyer with a proven track record.  Many lawyers call themselves trial lawyers, but only a small percentage regularly take cases to trial.   We at Simpson-Moore LLP have a proven record of success in trial, and we welcome the opportunity to review your case with you.