Commonly Asked Questions...
What kinds of cases do you take?
Jessica’s areas of litigation practice include:
• Land Use and Development Litigation
• Complex Business and Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Bad Faith Litigation
• Personal Injury
• Real Estate Development
• Strategic Business Formation and Planning
Additionally, she handles transactional work, such as
residential and commercial real estate transactions.
Do you charge for an initial consultation?
An initial consultation with someone from our office,
whether it is via telephone conference or face-to-face,
is FREE.
How do you bill for work performed?
We bill in two methods. Some work is
billed monthly at an hourly rate, plus costs. Some cases
are handled on a contingency basis, in which Jessica
Rutzick, Attorney at Law, P.C. retains a percentage of
any monetary award you receive in compensation for your
case, as a settlement or in court. Should you receive no
compensation, you will owe NO attorney fees.
Do you accept retainers?
Should a retainer be requested for your matter, it will
be held in our client trust account at our bank and be
disbursed in accordance with our representation
agreement and the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct.
Can you represent people who don’t live in Wyoming?
Yes. Jessica is licensed to practice in Wyoming, Idaho,
and Minnesota. However, if a case is filed in another
state, a local attorney from that state may work with
her, with authorization from the court. Both Jessica’s
and the local attorney’s fees are included in the
representation agreement entered into with Jessica, so
the client does not pay additional fees for the local
lawyer’s services.
What happens after a complaint is filed?
After the complaint is filed and answered by the
opposition, one side will move for the court to hold a
scheduling conference with the attorneys, during which
the case’s schedule is set. There will be a time for
discovery, a deadline in which to mediate the case, and
in some cases, the trial date will be set.
What is discovery?
Discovery is the process in litigation, during which
evidence is gathered over the course of anywhere from a
couple weeks to months and may be extended. Forms of
discovery include pleadings: interrogatories,
which are questions; request for production of
documents, in which one side asks another to provide
specific documents; and request for admissions,
which are statements that maybe denied or admitted. A
deposition is an interview given under oath before a
certified court reporter. Should you be scheduled for
one, Jessica will be there to represent you.
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