pro se

Started by TomS11 • 7 replies • 1460 views

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TomS11 (Florida)
Posts: 29

Posted:

in florida can a pro se litagent winning his case cllect attorneys fees or any thing like that?

JosephW (Michigan)
Posts: 882

Posted:

I believe that the jury can award "costs". The state will have guidelines as to what can be included in those costs.

Joe

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DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Tom,
Please excuse any ignorance that I have but is not a "Pro Se Litigant" someone who choses to defend themselves without counsul? What attorney fees are you referring to?

JC3
Posts: 290

Posted:

Speaking for myself, were I to go pro se, I would have to spend hours researching and preparing, much as an attorney would. I would probably have more costs because I would spend more time, (attorneys presumeably have at least SOME of the background and information so would not need to do so much research.) There would be other costs: I don't have a law library in my home, so I would have to GO to one and pay any fees required, can't deduct copying charges, mailing, certifying, deposing, etc. I would guess that's just a beginning.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

JC3,
That is correct that you would incurr many costs to defend yourself. What Tom asked is he can collect "attorney Fees" and I think that he needs to call any self incurred expenses by another name. Unless of course, he is an attorney. Florida does have provisions in the Statutes to retreive court costs from the association if you win in a case against them.

TomS11 (Florida)
Posts: 29

Posted:

thank you donna jc, that is essentialy what I was getting at, could Irecover costs much like you would if you were represented by an attorney.

JC3
Posts: 290

Posted:

You didn't ask, but I will suggest anyway: Not only will you have to file the appropriate papers at the appropriate times, remember appearance of those papers is important. Not only should you do a few spell checks on them, running them through the computer ones but maybe run them another spell ghecker and grammer checker, to be sure that spelling is correct, capital letters and punctuation are in place, and sentence structure is appropriate, etc.
THEN, ask someone you KNOW is knowledgeable in editing and that you trust to proofread your papers for you. That cost can probably also be included. (There are probably secretarial or editing services available where you live.)

TomS11 (Florida)
Posts: 29

Posted:

thanks jc may I ask are you from florida?

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