Sinkhole Lawyer Insurance Dispute Lawyer, Property Damage Litigation Florida History

OUR PLEDGE

LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. is a law firm committed to the aggressive representation and dedicated prosecution of our clients' interests. Clients of LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. always meet with one or more lawyers who will handle their claim and are continually apprised of the latest developments in their case. The dedicated and experienced staff remain sensitive to both the needs and concerns of our clients throughout the pendency of their claim. LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. represent individual and commercial property owners in disputes with their insurance companies that have wrongfully denied insurance coverage or have underpaid a claim. To protect the best interests of each and every one of our clients and to maintain the standards of excellence which our clients deserve we do not and have not ever represented insurance companies.

HISTORY

The attorneys of LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. have represented thousands of individual property owners with regard to their sinkhole and other claims against their property insurance companies throughout the state of Florida. This representation has included appraisals, arbitrations, mediations, and litigation in State and Federal Court, jury trials in both State and Federal Courts, including appellate representation at both the District Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court. LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. has been credited with being instrumental in the development of sinkhole litigation in the State of Florida and continues to be recognized as a leader in this area. Some of the insurance companies we have successfully concluded cases against are Allstate, State Farm, Prudential, First Floridian, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Select, Hartford, Nationwide, DeSoto, Teachers, Safeco, Southern Family, USF&G, USAA, Metropolitan, Liberty Mutual, Sunshine State, Clarendon, Regency, Liberty and Citizens (formerly the FRPCJUA).

Fees and Expenses

LeVALLEY & NAPOLITANO, P.L. offer all potential clients a free case evaluation in person, with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. If you will call our offices we will ask a few questions and take some information, and promptly schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Usually within a day or two of your call. You will be asked to bring certain documents with you including your insurance policy and any claim information you have. For your convenience, you may download a copy of our intake form to complete in the comfort of your home before you come in. Click here for a copy of the form in pdf format: Information Form For contact information click here:

Because we recognize what it costs to take on an insurance company, LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. represent clients in insurance cases on a contingency fee basis. If for any reason you receive no money, then we receive no fee for our work. Our firm always advances all the costs connected with the preparation and presentation of the case. If there is no recovery, these costs are not repaid by the client. Simply stated, we are paid fees and costs only if you win.

ADDITIONAL FEE INFORMATION

In the event a court awards an attorney's fee, which will be sought at the rate of $425.00 per hour, which is greater than the fee as set forth in the contingency fee schedule, LEVALLEY & NAPOLITANO, P.L., shall receive the greater court-awarded fee. In addition, it is understood that included in any fee shall be the payment of paralegal fees at the then-prevailing rate in the community. It is further understood and agreed that in the event the court awards a fee which is less than the percentage as set forth in the above contingency fee schedule, LEVALLEY & NAPOLITANO, P.L., shall receive the greater fee under the contingency fee schedule.

The effect is that LEVALLEY & NAPOLITANO, P.L. will be paid a reasonable fee consisting of either the amount under the contingency fee schedule or a reasonable fee to be set by the court, whichever might be greater.

If there is no recovery, then there will be no charge whatsoever for the attorney's services.

If there is no recovery, the client will not be responsible for costs.

LeVALLEY & NAPOLITANO, P.L. will deduct from the proceeds of the total recovery the amount of their contingent fee and then deduct the amount of all costs and expenses, before remitting to the client the balance of the recovery.

In the event LeVALLEY & NAPOLITANO, P.L. determine at any time that a claim should not be prosecuted, they may notify the client of this decision and withdraw as their attorneys from all claims, and the client shall owe them no fee for legal services, and no costs and expenses incurred in the handling of the claim.

STATEMENT OF CLIENT RIGHTS

Before you, the prospective client, arrange a contingent fee agreement with a lawyer, you should understand this statement of your rights as a client. This statement is not a part of the actual contract between you and your lawyer, but, as a prospective client, you should be aware of these rights.

There is no legal requirement that a lawyer charge a client a set fee or a percentage of money recovered in a case. You, the client, have the right to talk with your lawyer about the proposed fee and to bargain about the rate or percentages as in any other contract. If you do not reach an agreement with one lawyer, you may talk with other lawyers.
Any contingent fee contract must be in writing and you have three (3) business days to reconsider the contract. You may cancel the contract without any reason if you notify your lawyer in writing within thee (3) business days of signing the contract. If you withdraw from the contract within the first three (3) business days, you do not owe the lawyer a fee although you may be responsible for the lawyer's actual costs during that time. If your lawyer begins to represent you, your lawyer may not withdraw from the case without giving you a notice, delivering necessary papers to you, and allowing you time to employ another lawyer. Often your lawyer must obtain court approval before withdrawing from a case. If you discharge your lawyer without good cause after the three-day period, you may have to pay a fee for work the lawyer has done.
Before hiring a lawyer, you, the client, have the right to know about the lawyer's education, training, and experience. If you ask, the lawyer should tell you specifically about his or her actual experience dealing with cases similar to yours. If you ask, the lawyer should provide information about special training or knowledge and give you this information in writing if you request it.
Before signing a contingent fee contract with you, a lawyer must advise you whether he or she intends to handle your case alone or whether other lawyers will be helping with the case. If your lawyer intends to refer the case to other lawyers, he or she should tell you what kind of fee sharing arrangement will be made with the other lawyers. If lawyers from different law firms will represent you, at least one lawyer from each law firm must sign the contingent fee contract.
If your lawyer intends to refer your case to another lawyer or counsel with other lawyers, your lawyer should tell you about that at the beginning. If your lawyer takes the case and later decides to refer it to another lawyer or to associate with other lawyers, you should sign a new contract which includes the new lawyers. You, the client, also have the right to consult with each lawyer working on your case and each lawyer is legally responsible to represent your interest and is legally responsible for the acts of the other lawyers involved in the case.
You, the client, have the right to know in advance how you will need to pay the expenses and the legal fees at the end of the case. If you pay a deposit in advance for costs you may ask reasonable questions about how the money will be or has been spent and how much of it remains unspent. Your lawyer should give a responsible estimate about future necessary costs. If your lawyer agrees to lend or advance you money to prepare or research the case, you have the right to know periodically how much money your lawyer has spent on your behalf. You also have the right to decide, after consulting with your lawyer, how much money is spent to prepare a case. If you pay the expenses, you have the right to decide how much to spend. Your lawyer should also inform you whether the fee will be based on the gross amount recovered or on the amount recovered minus the costs.
You, the client, have the right to be told by your lawyer about possible adverse consequences if you lose the case. Those adverse consequences might include money which you might have to pay to your lawyer for costs and liability you might have for attorney's fees to the other side.
You, the client, have the right to receive and approve a closing statement at the end of the case before you pay any money. The statement must list all of the financial details of the entire case, including the amount recovered, all expenses, and a precise statement of your lawyer's fee. Until you approve the closing statement you need not pay any money to anyone, including your lawyer. You also have the right to have every lawyer or law firm working on your case sign this closing statement.
You, the client, have the right to ask your lawyer at reasonable intervals how the case is progressing and to have these questions answered to the best of your lawyer's ability.
You, the client, have the right to make the final decision regarding settlement of a case. Your lawyer must notify you of all offers of settlement before and after the trial. Offers during the trial must be immediately communicated and you should consult with your lawyer regarding whether to accept a settlement. However, you must make the final decision to accept or reject a settlement.
If, at any time, you, the client, believe that your lawyer has charged an excessive or illegal fee, you, the client, have the right to report the matter to The Florida Bar, the agency that oversees the practice and behavior of all lawyers in Florida. For information on how to reach The Florida Bar, call (904) 222-5286, or contact the local bar association. Any disagreement between you and your lawyer about a fee can be taken to court and you may wish to hire another lawyer to help you resolve this disagreement. Usually fee disputes must be handled in a separate lawsuit unless your fee contract provides for arbitration. You can request, but may not require, that a provision for arbitration (under Chapter 682, Florida Statutes, or under the fee arbitration rule of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar) be included in your fee contract.

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