10-16-2019 Agreement for Legal Services of Client Attorney Elizabeth Pierce-DuranceAGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES OF CLIENT ATTORNEY
Parties. This is a contract for legal services between the law firm of Elizabeth
Pierce -Durance, LLC, (the "Law Firm") and the Town of Avon ("Client").
2. Scope of Legal Services. As directed by the Client, the Law Firm shall provide
prosecutorial services to the Client, which shall include assessing and
prosecuting criminal and civil cases brought before the Avon Municipal Court and
providing all necessary ancillary services thereto, as well as providing such other
legal services as may be requested by the Town Council or the Town Attorney.
Elizabeth Pierce -Durance shall serve as the principal attorney providing the
services.
3. License and Malpractice Insurance. The Law Firm agrees to maintain at all times
its license to practice law in the State of Colorado. Law Firm shall promptly
inform Client if there is any change in the good standing status of the license to
practice law in the State of Colorado. Law Firm shall maintain professional
malpractice insurance in the minimum amount of five hundred thousand dollars
($500,000.00) per occurrence in a form and with such terms as are acceptable to
the Client.
4. Compensation. The Client shall pay the Law Firm compensation for services
rendered in the amount of $150/hour.
A. Costs. The Client shall compensate the Law Firm for out-of-pocket fees
and costs incurred on the Client's behalf, including but not limited to filing
fees, service of process, expert witness fees, court reporter fees,
transcript fees, messenger fees, computer research, recording fees, title
company fees. Such fees will be billed to the Client at the Law Firm's
cost without mark-up. The Client shall compensate the Law Firm for
mileage expenses for personal use of private vehicles used by the Law
Firm's attorneys incurred in the direct and exclusive performance of
services for the Client. Mileage shall be charged at the reimbursement
rate set by the Internal Revenue Service.
B. Estimated Charges. The Law Firm may give the Client an estimate of the
anticipated total cost of a particular matter. The actual charges may vary
from the estimate due to unforeseen complexities or difficulties. The
estimate is not firm and is not binding on either the Client or the Law Firm.
C. Billing; Payment; Late Payment Charge. The Law Firm shall provide to
the Client a detailed invoice for all legal services on a monthly basis.
Such billings shall separate work and fees associated with specific
projects for which the Client accounts separately. The Client shall pay all
billings from the Law Firm within thirty (30) days of receipt of invoice. Any
amounts not paid within thirty (30) days of the date of the bill shall be
subject to interest at the rate of 1-1/2% per month (18% per year,
compounded monthly). If the Client fails to pay any charges within 30
days of the date of the bill the Law Firm may elect to stop all work for the
Client. The Client's obligation to make prompt payment of all charges
does not depend upon achievement of any specific result.
5. Client. The Client grants to the Law Firm the power to execute documents
connected with prosecutorial services, including pleadings and settlement
documents. The Law Firm shall be authorized to represent the Client in all
matters appearing before the Avon Municipal Court, including appeals taken from
that court into any other.
6. Term and Termination. This Agreement shall be effective upon approval by the
Client and Law Firm and shall terminate upon written notice by either party.
Termination by either party may occur at any time without cause or reason. The
Law Firm shall use best efforts to provide a minimum of thirty (30) days notice of
termination of representation of the Client. If the Client discharges the Law Firm,
the Client shall pay all fees and costs incurred to the date of termination, and the
Law Firm shall promptly deliver all files and documents of the Client to the Client.
7. Arbitration. Although the parties do not expect that any dispute between them
will arise, in the unlikely event of any dispute under this Agreement, including a
dispute regarding the amount of legal fees or costs owed to the Law Firm or the
quality of the Law Firm's services, including any claim of malpractice, such
dispute shall be subject to binding arbitration. The Client and Law Firm
acknowledge that they are waiving their right to seek remedies in court, including
the right to a jury trial. (This clause does not prevent the Client and the Law Firm
from trying to resolve any dispute through voluntary mediation, but there is no
requirement to do so.)
Any dispute concerning fees or costs shall be submitted to the Legal Fee
Arbitration Committee of the Denver Bar Association and the decision of the
Committee shall be final and binding on both parties. Any dispute concerning the
quality of the Law Firm's services, including malpractice claims, shall be
submitted to a single arbitrator and the decision of the arbitrator shall be final and
binding on both parties. A final judgment can be entered on the arbitration award
by a court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall be selected from the
Judicial Arbiter Group, Denver, Colorado unless the parties agree otherwise. If
the parties do not agree on the selection of a single arbitrator within ten days
after a demand for arbitration is made, then the arbitrator shall be selected by the
Judicial Arbiter Group from among its available professionals.
All arbitrations shall be held in Denver, Colorado unless the parties mutually
agree on some other location. All arbitrations shall proceed under the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, except as
modified in this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. The
arbitrator shall have the discretion to order that the costs of arbitration, fees
(including expert witness and reasonable attorney fees), and other costs shall be
borne by the losing party. Any filing fees or other administrative costs of
arbitration shall be divided equally between the Client and the Law Firm.
Arbitration of all disputes, and the outcome of the arbitration, shall remain
confidential between the parties.
8. Document Retention. Files maintained by the Law Firm as the result of
performance of services for the Client pursuant to this Agreement shall be the
property of the Client, and upon termination of this Agreement, shall be delivered
to the Client.
9. Of Counsel Relationship. The Law Firm intends to enter into a limited "Of
Counsel" relationship with local law firm Causey & Howard, LLC, which
relationship will specifically exclude work done for Client. Causey & Howard,
LLC, has provided Client with a letter establishing its current lack of conflict with
the Town of Avon and its intention not to represent clients adverse to the Town of
Avon.
THE LAW FIRM AND THE CLIENT HAVE READ THIS DOCUMENT, UNDERSTAND
IT, AND AGREE TO IT.
Elizabeth Pierce -Durance LLC
By:
_!�!
Date:
— Wh(, iq
Town of Avon, Colorado
�d
By: