Following civil litigation in Nevada, one of the items you may be awarded is the cost of your legal representation. Depending on the length of time your case takes, these fees can be quite costly. Fortunately, there are legal steps you can take to ensure that the defendant in your case is responsible for the fee.
According to the state’s rules of civil procedure, you must file a motion for attorney’s fees. There are several requirements related to this motion, including the following:
- After the judgment is entered, you must file the motion within 14 days.
- You must state the amount of money you are seeking, even if it is just an estimate.
- You must cite on which grounds you feel you are entitled to the compensation.
The court could require you to disclose the terms of the agreement you entered into with your attorney. For example, some attorneys charge by the hour or only take a percentage of any award you receive. If the court requests such information, you must provide it. Additionally, upon request, the court must allow any objections to your motion for attorney’s fees.
Nevada’s laws also ensure that a court cannot refuse attorney’s fees to a public officer or agency when, as a plaintiff, the party wins its case. Therefore, if the state itself requests attorneys fees following the outcome of a trial, the court cannot reduce or deny those fees.
While this information may be useful, it should not be taken as legal advice.