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Depositions and Billing Attorneys

How do you charge for depositions and prep time? My client was involved in an MVA and is suing the other driver. His attorney already has copies of my SOAP notes. Now, they want to depose me. I have several other clients in similar situations so I anticipate this will come up again.

How do you charge for doing a deposition? Do you charge your regular hourly rate? Are there ethical and/or legal guidelines (for charging) I should be aware of? What about travel to & from the site of the deposition (this one is in another city) - charge time? Mileage? Or just write-off the mileage like other business travel?

Thanks for the advice.

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Permalink Reply by Jody C. Hutchinson on July 30, 2010 at 7:56am

For a deposition I charge a rate that is similar to a home visit or just about 2 hours of time. Time and mileage for travel can be folded into this. Don't be worried about what seems like a high fee, many experts charge over $100 per hour for their testimony. I'm unaware of any ethical guidelines on this, any reasonable fee seems appropriate.
Good luck,
jh

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Permalink Reply by Kathy "KJ" Burley on July 30, 2010 at 8:02pm

Thanks for your good wishes, Jody. I know many experts charge very high hourly rates for appearing at depositions (in my "previous life", I was an office mgr for a law firm & had to pay some of those bills!) But, being on the other side of the table now, I wondered how other MTs have handled this issue.

<3 KJ