Demand Letters and Complaints - Small Claims Court AZ, Justice Court and Municipal
The vast majority of civil actions are settled without ever going to trial. This includes actions belonging in Small Claims Courts, which Arizona law limits for legal matters concerning amounts of $3,500.00 or less. This also applies to Justice Courts and Municipal Courts, in which matters are limited to $10,000 or less for each claim for damages (there can be multiple claims within one case).
Most estimates places the percentage of civil cases settled outside of litigation at around 95 - 99%. In any respect, well under 10% of civil matters actually make it to trial.
Most civil cases such as those concerning the payment of a debt, personal injury, payment of a security deposit or other matter, start with a demand letter.
A demand letter is exactly as it sounds; a letter demanding something, such as money, to be paid to the sending party in order to prevent escalation, usually filing a complaint in court.
Demand letters can be a useful tool for both parties, as they can prevent court costs and expensive attorney's fees. They also reduce case loads and allow courts to process other pressing cases.
We offer three separate unbundled services concerning demand letters, small claims, and or any civil matter that may come before an Arizona Justice Court or Municipal Court:
1.) Demand letter drafting, expert legal research with meticulous citations and sent to the opposing party or parties from the firm. We will also negotiate on behalf of the client at the client's election, we charge a fifteen to twenty percent (15-20%) flat rate for any award we obtain via negotiations on the client's behalf.
2.) Expert legal research with proper citations, drafting of a complaint (and summons*) for clients to file either on their own behalf in an AZ Small Claims Court (note that attorneys or LPs cannot file on a client's behalf in Small Claims Court under AZ law or participate without approval from all parties), or filed by us directly in a Justice Court or Municipal Court. In the latter instance, we will also draft and file a Summons with the Complaint as well as provide a written legal opinion on the strengths and potential weaknesses of a case.
3.) Demand letter with Complaint (combined at a discounted rate as shown below).
We charge for these unbundled services on a flat fee basis and strive to deliver each within One (1) to Seven (7) Days of receiving a signed fee agreement (client signature is requested electronically) and payment.
Demand Letters
We will draft and send a demand letter to an opposing party in any civil matter where an Arizona client is demanding amounts of $10,000.00 or less (there may be multiple amounts so long as each demand is less than $10,000.00).
We must always adhere to ethical standards. Although each demand letter we provide is ethical and professional, they are also strongly worded for maximum effect. Each demand letter includes extensive legal research and citations to relevant law.
Negotiations on Behalf of a Client -
The client may elect to have our firm negotiate on their behalf if the opposing party reaches us after delivery of a demand letter. If successful, we charge a flat rate of twenty percent (20%) of any agreed upon settlement for amounts in excess of $3,500 and fifteen percent (15%) for any amounts under $3,500. The client may elect to negotiate on their own behalf in which case we will not charge any additional fee.
Demand Letter Flat Fees-
a.) Demand letters concerning amounts of $3,500 or less: $130.00 Drafted and sent to opposing party within one (1) to seven (7) days after completion of fee agreement and payment depending upon current volume.
b.) Demand letters concerning amounts of $10,000 or less - $175.00 Drafted and sent to opposing party within one (1) to seven (7) days after completion of fee agreement and payment depending upon current volume.
We provide demand letters for any of the following legal matters up to four (4) pages in length (most matters will fit within this limit) not including relevant attachments:
Demand letter for security deposit
We will conduct legal research, draft and send a demand letter on the client's behalf to receive a security deposit that the client should have received from a landlord.
Demand letter for money owed
We will conduct legal research, draft and send a demand letter on the client's behalf to receive lawfully owed money to the client.
Demand letter for personal injury
We will conduct legal research, draft and send a demand letter on the client's behalf to receive compensation concerning an injury to the client for any valid injury mater such as auto accidents, slip and falls, malpractice, etc.
Demand letter for property damage
We will conduct legal research, draft and send a demand letter on the client's behalf to cover property damage suffered by the client.
Demand letter small claims
We will conduct legal research, draft and send a demand letter on the client's behalf concerning small claims in the amount of $3,500 or less.
Cease and Desist
We will conduct legal research, draft and send a demand letter on the client's behalf in order to help persuade an opposing party to cease and desist an activity that is unlawful or in breach of contract.
Complaints
In the event a demand letter is ineffective, or a client has already tried this method unsuccessfully, we also conduct legal research, draft and file complaints on behalf of clients in all civil matters that are or may come before Justice Courts or Municipal Courts in AZ for a flat fee.
Complaint Flat Fees-
a.) Complaint concerning amounts of $3,500 or less - $200.00
AZ Small Claims Courts: Includes expertly conducted legal research with proper citations, and meticulous drafting to contain all pertinent facts. The client must file and serve on his or her own behalf pursuant to AZ rules. The Court issues with summons directly in small claims cases. Completed within one (1) to seven (7) days after completion of fee agreement and payment depending upon current volume.
b.) Complaint and Summons concerning amounts of $3,500 up to $10,000 - $360.00 - (Includes court filing fees - currently set at $101.00 for Maricopa Justice Court, and written legal opinion)
AZ Justice Courts and Municipal Courts: Includes a written legal opinion on the strength and potential weaknesses of a client's case, expertly conducted legal research with proper citations, meticulous drafting and filing . Completed within one (1) to seven (7) days after completion of fee agreement and payment depending upon current volume.
Demand Letter with Complaint / Summons
An added effect with any demand letter is to include with it an expertly drafted complain. This demonstrates to the opposing party or parties the degree of seriousness of the matter and that legal action is much more likely to follow.
If by the date the opposing party was set to respond has passed and the demand letter was unsuccessful, the complaint and summons would be filed by our firm in AZ Justice Court or Municipal Court, or by the client in Small Claims Court. Clients can save money by selecting both services together in advance.
a.) Demand letter and Complaint concerning amounts of $3,500 or less - $300.00 (Discount of $30.00)
b.) Demand letter and Complaint with Summons concerning amounts of $3,500 up to $10,000 - $490.00 (Discount of $45.00), includes court filing fees and written legal opinion addressing case strengths and potential weaknesses
Easy Five Step Process-
Brief Phone Consultation
Client Intake Form to Confirm all Facts
Signed Fee Agreement
Completion of Payment
We Deliver in Seven Days or Less
After a brief phone consultation, we will provide you with a short client intake form to ensure all relevant facts are obtained regarding your matter, request you electronically sign a short written fee agreement, and complete payment. We will deliver or file on your behalf within one (1) to seven (7) Days.
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Caudill Arundell Law PLC,
Laveen AZ
Top-tier, Trusted & Cost Effective Legal Services. Licensed to practice civil law in the State of Arizona.
Arizona Bar # 500072
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info@caudillarundelllaw.com
(480) 805-6829
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Caudill Arundell Law PLC is owned by Richard C Caudill-Arundell, LP, MLS (Hons), G Cert LP, an Arizona Legal Paraprofessional (“LP”) licensed and endorsed to practice limited jurisdiction civil Law by the AZ Supreme Court.
Legal Paraprofessionals are licensed professionals comparable to Nurse Practitioners as per the AZ Supreme Court and are bound by attorney-client privilege. An additional accurate comparison for LPs would be to a Solicitor within the United Kingdom while attorneys would equate to Barristers. LPs are not attorneys and can only practice law within their authorized area(s) of endorsement. Caudill Arundell Law works with attorneys and may refer clients to attorneys in some matters that are beyond our scope of practice.
As an LP owned firm, we may only offer document drafting and general information in matters outside of our area of endorsement. This means any legal matters that are not or may not come before an AZ Justice Court or Municipal Court, in accordance with the LP Code of Conduct specified in ACJA § 7-210.
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