I enjoy helping people solve problems. My philosophy as a lawyer has remained the same: I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Lawyering suffers from a shabby reputation because many lawyers create or prolong conflict as a means of generating revenues. To me, that is wrong. Lawyers are in a position of immense trust, and they should act accordingly.

That is not to say I’m not able and willing to be very aggressive in advancing my clients’ interest when appropriate. If a client has been hurt, betrayed, or taken advantage of, I will not hesitate to take swift legal action to remedy the situation. I have developed a reputation as someone who does not shy away from a courtroom battle when the situation calls for it. I love trying cases in front of juries, and have lost only one jury trial in my nine years of practice.

Whenever possible, I try to act cooperatively to solve a client’s problem quickly and efficiently. I apply that approach to all of my areas of practice. Here are those areas:

PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH

 When a person is injured or killed due to the negligence of another, we help them or their family recover a fair settlement. We negotiate with insurance companies, but if they refuse to treat our clients fairly, we take them to court and put the matter into the hands of a jury. We represent people who have been injured in automobile accidents, slip and falls, maritime accidents, and physical assaults. You can contact Beeson & Beckstead on-line at .

BUSINESS LAW

I help people form corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and other business entities to help shield their personal assets from exposure. I help them maintain the proper legal identity of their business and advise them on legal issues that arise in the course of doing business. I also represent businesses in lawsuits involving contract and other legal disputes. I also help people put together and maintain nonprofit corporations such as animal protection groups, environmental organizations, and volunteer associations.

REAL ESTATE

I have extensive experience in real estate matters. Over the years I have drafted hundreds of land sale contracts, trust deeds, easements, boundary line agreements, and other real estate documents. I have handled many lawsuits involving real estate, and am especially knowledgeable in disputes over property boundaries.

ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE

You’re never too young to plan for the disposition of your estate after you die. This is especially true if you have minor children, because nobody wants the decision of who will care for children left up to a court. I write wills and trusts for people and help them choose the best means for distributing their estate. I also prepare nominations of guardians and conservators, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other such instruments. As someone who cares about animals, I like to help people make sure their animals will be provided for after they die. I also represent the estates of deceased persons in probate court, and have developed a good understanding of how to make that process as quick and painless as possible.

FAMILY LAW

Divorces, separations, and custody disputes are emotionally charged and often very challenging to resolve. Too many family lawyers fail to advise their clients that the price of fighting the "he said/she said" battle is the financial ruin of both parties. I try to get clients divorced fairly and quickly. I refuse to allow children to be used as pawns in these disputes. For those clients who have negotiated terms of a settlement with their spouse, I can have the necessary paperwork prepared quickly, and very often I can have an uncontested divorce finished within one week. Of course, the happier side of family law is adoptions. I really enjoy helping put families together!

CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

The United States Constitution contains basic guarantees for all citizens. As a lawyer, I work to see those guarantees enforced. I represent people who have been subjected to discrimination on the job and elsewhere. As a longtime student of the First Amendment, I have represented many people, and even one newspaper, in lawsuits involving libel and slander.

FEES AND BILLING

My hourly rate is $200. I include routine office expenses, including secretarial time, long-distance charges, postage, and copying expenses in my hourly fee. I take most personal injury and wrongful death matters on a contingency fee basis. My fee in those cases is one-third of the settlement or verdict. Clients are responsible for out-of-pocket expenses in those cases. If there is no recovery, I don’t get paid. But then, I’ve never had a case where a client didn’t receive money for their case! As a general matter, I try very hard to be conscientious in my billing procedures. I want clients to understand the bills I send them. I also want them to feel they received a valuable service for their money.