June 30, 2011
Oklahoma Slip & Fall Discovery Requests
By Clayton HasbrookHere’s some interrogatories and requests for production discovery requests we use for slip and fall cases here in Oklahoma City. Obviously, we change them depending on the facts of the particular case.
January 14, 2011
Personal Injury Client Survey
By Clayton HasbrookWhether we like it or not, we’re in a customer service orientated business. A more exact phrase may be “client service” oriented business. Either way, attorneys can work really hard on a case, get a successful result, and the client may not be happy. A huge reason for this is lack of communication. We’ve been doing client surveys to get feedback from our clients. If we don’t think to ask, we probably won’t know what’s troubling our clients.
Here’s a Client Survey we give to clients. Obviously, it’s given with the instructions of “feel free to fill this out if you want, you certainly don’t have to.”
January 10, 2011
General Personal Injury Intake Form
By Clayton HasbrookHere’s a general personal injury intake form we use in our office. We actually rarely have the client fill it out because I’ve generally already asked for most of the info. It basically serves as a reminder of what we need to cover in our initial consultation.
January 3, 2011
Friendly Suit Checklist
By Clayton HasbrookAny attorney that has handled a case with someone under the age of 18 knows that a friendly suit needs to be filed – even to approve a settlement (if it exceeds $1,000). The statute that applies is 12 O.S. § 83.
Here’s a checklist we often use at our friendly suit hearings: Friendly Suit Questions.
For those interested, here’s the actual statute, 12 O.S. § 83:
A. Monies recovered in any court proceeding by a next friend or guardian ad litem for or on behalf of a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age in excess of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) over sums sufficient for paying costs and expenses including medical bills and attorney’s fees shall be deposited, by order of the court, in one or more federally insured banking, credit union or savings and loan institutions, or invested by a bank or trust company having trust powers under federal or state law, approved by the court; provided, that the court may approve a structured settlement, by the terms of which the proceeds of a settlement may be invested by the plaintiff or the defendant in an annuity to be paid to or for the benefit of the minor by an insurance company licensed in this state.
B. Until the person becomes eighteen (18) years of age, withdrawals of monies from the account or accounts shall be solely pursuant to order of the court made in the case in which recovery was had.
C. When an application for the order is made by a person who is not represented by an attorney, the judge of the court shall prepare the order.
D. This section shall not apply if a legal guardian has been appointed for the minor prior to any award of monies pursuant to subsection A of this section. If a legal guardian is appointed after any award of monies pursuant to subsection A of this section, the legal guardian may petition the district court in the county where the federally insured funds are held for an order directing the bank, credit union or savings and loan to transfer the funds to the legal guardian. The district court may make the granting of the request to transfer funds subject to reasonable safeguards.
November 17, 2010
Oklahoma City Car Accident Petition
By Clayton HasbrookHere’s a basic car accident petition we use. Obviously, the pleading requirements are different for a case with over $75,000 in damages.
October 26, 2010
Personal Injury Work Flow Checklist
By Clayton HasbrookHere’s a *very* general outline we use for personal injury cases: Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyer Work Flow. Obviously, the work flow is different for cases involving the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act.