HomeMy Public PortalAboutHearing OfficerLarry A. Matthews *
Raymond F. Higgins, III
Thomas R. Jenkins, Of Counsel*
* Also admitted in Alabama
Certified Circuit Court Mediator
* Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
Elizabeth M. Roy
City Clerk, City of Crestview
Custodian of Public Records
M&H
MATTHEWS
HIGGINS, LLC
Civil Trial Attorneys
December 20, 2018
RE: Red Light Hearing Officer, City of Crestview
114 E. Gregory Street (32502)
Post Office Box 13145
Pensacola, Florida 32591
Telephone: Pensacola (850) 434-2200
Panama City (850) 769-7200
Facsimile: (850) 434-2600
Web Address: www.matthewshigginslaw.com
Dear Ms. Roy:
I appreciate the opportunity to act as the Red Light Hearing officer for the City of
Crestview. This letter describes some of the basic terms of our engagement.
1. Scope of services. You have asked me to act as the Red Light Hearing
Officer for the City of Crestview. Our engagement may be terminated by either one of
us upon reasonable notice to the other.
2. Staffing. I will be the partner responsible for the legal services provided
to you. My partner, Ray Higgins, as well as paralegals, may assist me from time to
time but I expect their assistance to be minimal.
3. Billing procedures and retainer. This confirms my hourly rate will be
$175.00 with no charge for travel. However, because I will not charge for travel, I will
require a 2 hour minimum per hearing date plus charge time in preparing orders. For
example, if I attend 2 hearings on a scheduled date that takes a total of 45 minutes, I will
charge 2 hours for attending plus time spent preparing the 2 orders. These rates are
subject to change upon reasonable notice.
We typically bill on a monthly basis. Our bills are due and payable upon receipt.
If you have any questions or concerns about the form in which our bills are presented or
services performed, we encourage you to raise them immediately. We want you to be
satisfied with both our services and fees.
4. Reimbursement of costs. In addition to fees, you may be responsible to pay
for disbursements and certain other expenses incurred as a result of our engagement.
Please note, I will not charge for travel costs, and it is doubtful that there will be
any reimbursed costs in my engagement.
5. Responsibilities of attorney and client. You are engaging my firm to
provide legal services in connection with the above -referenced matter. After completion
of the matter, changes may occur in the applicable laws or regulations that could have an
impact upon Crestview's future rights and liabilities. Unless you engage us after
completion of this matter to provide additional advice on issues that may arise in our initial
engagement, our firm has no continuing obligation to advise you with respect to future
legal developments.
In order for us to assist you effectively and efficiently, we expect that you will
provide us with the factual information which relates to the subject matter of our
engagement. We encourage you to share with us at all times your expectations and any
concerns regarding our services at any time during the course of our representations.
Following the conclusion of our representation, we typically destroy our files on
the matter. Our own files pertaining to the matter will be retained by the firm. These
firm files include, for example, firm administrative records, time and expense reports,
personnel and staffing materials, and credit and accounting records; and internal
lawyers' work product such as drafts, notes, internal memoranda, and legal and factual
research, including investigative reports, prepared by or for the internal use of lawyers.
Our firm prides itself on maintaining good working relationships with our clients.
If you become dissatisfied or have questions with any aspect of our relationship, we
encourage you to bring that to my attention immediately. It is my belief that most problems
can be resolved by a frank and good faith discussion between us.
We look forward to working with you. Please do not hesitate to call or contact
me if you have any questions concerning anything outlined in this letter or in any other
aspect of our agreement.
With best regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
MATTHEWS & HIGGINS, LLC
Larry A. Matthews
Imatthews@matthewshigginslaw,com
City of Crestview