Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Re: What type of attorney would my mother in law need?

Probably the case can be successfully defended, although of course there are no guarantees. Yes, Mom-in-law will have to hire an attorney and respond to the lawsuit within 30 days, it's less expensive than her losing her house by default. Call me anytime to discuss.

Re: What type of attorney would my mother in law need?

P.S.: Make sure she purchases homeowners' insurance. DO IT.TODAY.

Re: What type of attorney would my mother in law need?

Personal injury litigation is a type of civil litigation, so the distinction you draw is not important. Your mother-in-law needs a civil litigator, but the litigator need not be a specialist in personal injury cases.

It's impossible to say how much hiring a lawyer will cost. If the plaintiffs settle quickly or of their case against your mother-in-law can be defeated early on, the bill should be modest. If the case goes through discovery and trial, it will be much higher. It will be higher still if the case is appealed.

When selecting a lawyer, your mother-in-law should not focus too heavily on how much each charges per hour or how much of a retainer he or she wants. Those things matter, but if a lawyer who charges more per hour is able to resolve the case without working as many hours, the total cost can be much less than she would pay for a lawyer who charges less per hour but devotes more hours to the case.

Of course, a lawyer who charges more per hour is not necessarily better or more efficient than one who charges less. My point is simply that the hourly rate and retainer amount are not the only factors that determine a lawyer's total cost.

You or your mother-in-law should feel free to contact me directly if you want to discuss the situation further.

Good luck,