Many civil legal disputes in Arizona can be handled in Justice Court, where the amount in dispute cannot exceed $10,000. Justice Courts also handle most forcible detainer ( landlord/tenant) actions for possession of real property and injunctions against harassment. Unfortunately, unlike Small Claims Court where the procedures are simplified and specfically designed to make it easy for a pro se litigant to present his case, it can be difficult for a self-represented individual to obtain the relief he or she is seeking in Justice Court.
After handling dozens of Justice Court cases and observing that the legal fees frequently exceeded the cost of recovery, Kevin Harper decided to design a more cost-effective solution for clients seeking damages of $10,000 or less in the Justice Court setting. In lieu of charging a customary hourly fee, Harper Law will handle most Justice Court cases, from beginning to end, for a reasonable flat fee. In many cases, the prevailing party will also be awarded attorneys' fees and costs, which may entitle you to recover these expenses from the opposing party at the end of the case. Of course, if you do not prevail you may have to pay the other side's fees and costs.
Forcible Detainer actions and Injunction Against Harassment actions can also usually be handled in the Maricopa County Justice Courts for a low fixed fee.
In our experience, these flat fees are a much more cost-effective option than a customary hourly fee. Of course, some smaller cases or cases where collection is doubtful may not merit the cost of retaining an attorney - even at this reduced fee schedule. We hope, however, that by offering flat fee services for Justice Court litigation some individuals and businesses that otherwise could not afford an Arizona attorney will have an opportunity to have their case presented by an experienced lawyer.
