FAQ’S

At DBJ, our work is regularly recognized by fellow attorneys, judges, and other professionals in the highest possible way - with referrals of new clients to work with us.  We appreciate these recommendations to people in their most dire circumstances immensely and understand the level of trust our referring professionals put in us to help those they send to us.

We have worked with referring attorneys in many different manners.  If you prefer to send a client to us for our firm to work with independently, we are capable of helping you.  If you are an attorney working diligently on behalf of a client but could use help on the case in an ongoing manner, we are willing to co-counsel, whether we take the lead in the case or it makes sense for us to assist merely.  Each case stands on its own to determine which scenario makes sense, but the client's best interest will always dictate which route should be followed.

At DBJ, we strive every day to obtain the best possible results for our clients.  The people and companies we represent have been injured and seek accountability for personal and financial damage suffered. Although, in many cases, monetary payment cannot heal the pain brought on by the harm, in the American civil court system, financial compensation is the typical and primary method of redress.

DBJ obtains results for our clients in two typical ways:  earning a verdict at trial and negotiating a settlement outside of court.

Trial Verdict

Trial verdicts occur when the parties to a lawsuit cannot agree on terms to settle a dispute and must have a court of law provide a ruling.  During a trial, a jury (panel of citizens) or a judge listens to what both parties to the dispute offer on points of evidence and law.  After hearing both sides, the jury or judge determines that the plaintiff (the party bringing the lawsuit) is correct and should receive money or that the defendant is correct and that no award should be given.

Settlement

A settlement is an agreement showing that a plaintiff and defendant have resolved their dispute without needing a trial with a judge or jury.  Both parties voluntarily enter into settlements.  DBJ only recommends its clients consider entering into settlements if the terms are very favorable considering the facts of the case and the risks of receiving less favorable results if a verdict at trial were sought.

Why the difference is important

DBJ is a firm that maximizes the results it obtains for its clients.  Often the right solution for helping a client is reaching a settlement with a defendant.  This can reduce the time, risk, and anxiety a case may require for the injured plaintiff.  However, many insurance companies and other defendants are unwilling to settle cases for their maximum value voluntarily.

There is always a risk that a defendant will prevail at trial, and the plaintiff will receive less than a settlement would have provided or even nothing at all.  However, DBJ has demonstrated time and again that it can win jury trials that result in many times the value of what a proposed settlement would have brought to a plaintiff. When this happens, a plaintiff must be represented by a law firm with the skill, resources, and guts to take on a defendant through a trial verdict. This ability, and outright willingness, to take on defendants in court makes DBJ so feared by defendants and the companies paying for their legal defenses.

One of the most confusing aspects a potential client faces when researching what law firm may be right for his or her case is how the law firm will get paid for the work done on behalf of the client.  We understand this confusion and have adopted a contingency fee model for cases we accept.

A contingency fee is a sum of money that is collected by a law firm only if the case is won and money is collected.

In short, DBJ will only receive attorneys fees and reimbursement of expenses we advance on your behalf if we successfully win and collect fees for you.  In addition, when defendants make payment, contingency fees and reimbursed expenses are typically paid to DBJ, so no additional work is required for you to pay to DBJ on successful case completion.