Florida
Frequently Asked Questions

• What is an Offer of Judgment?
  • In most parts of the United States, each party to litigation pays for their own attorney’s fees, whether they win or lose. This is known as the “American Rule.” However, in Florida, the state legislature has passed a law that shifts the burden for paying for your own attorney’s fees to the other party under certain circumstances. In essence, if one party makes a formal “Offer of Judgment” in accordance with Florida Statute 768.79 and Rule 1.442 of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the other party fails to accept it, then the party making the Offer of Judgment may have their attorney’s fees incurred from the date that their Proposal is rejected be compensated by the other party, if that other party does not achieve a judgment of at least 75% of the defendant's offer or more than 125% of the plaintiff's demand. Since how a judge or jury may rule in a particular case is often unpredictable, we have developed the LegalFeeGuard program. The program is designed to take this worry away, so you can focus on the merits of your case. The program also provides a ready source of funds to satisfy any valid claims made pursuant to the Offer of Judgment statute, making it easier to collect.
• When do I need to purchase the coverage?
  • You can purchase the coverage at any time during the life of your case as long as it is purchased no later than 40 days prior to trial. Although it is possible to buy prior to receiving a Offer of Judgment in a case, it would be unusual to do so.
• I already have an insurance company defending my client. Should my client buy this policy too?
  • You should check with your client's insurance company to determine whether their current policy will cover them for any adverse result under the Offer of Judgment statute in Florida. Some insurers may provide coverage up to the limits of liability under the policy. If the limits of the policy are exhausted, though, by the payment of claims, then your client may still have personal liability for an adverse judgment under the Offer of Judgment statute.
• Can I see a sample policy?
  • Yes, a sample policy is available upon request by either you or your attorney. Just email Jacqueline Stone with your name and your case number at info@vanguardspecialty.com to request a copy.
• Is there a deductible under the policy?
  • No, there is no deductible under the policy.
• As an attorney, can I purchase the policy on behalf of my client?
  • Yes, according to Florida Bar Staff opinion 28705 (revised) of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Florida Bar, an attorney in Florida may advance the cost of the premium of the LegalFeeGuard policy and make the repayment of that premium contingent on the lawyer making a recovery on behalf of the client.
• How will I receive my policy?
  • Once your payment for your policy has cleared our system and we have reviewed your submission to our satisfaction, you will receive an email which will direct you to that part of the LegalFeeGuard website where you are able to retrieve your policy documents.
• Who is my insurance broker for this policy?
  • The insurance broker for the LegalFeeGuard product in Florida is Stephen van Wert. He is a licensed insurance agent in the state of Florida. Jacqueline Stone, the Product Manager, can be reached at info@vanguardspecialty.com or by calling 813-995-7656
• What should I do if I see an error on my policy?
  • Please email customer service at info@vanguardspecialty.com. In your email, please give your name, policy number, and a description of the error.
• Is LegalFeeGuard available to Plaintiffs, Defendants or both?
  • Both plaintiffs and defendants are able to purchase a LegalFeeGuard policy.
• Is LegalFeeGuard available in other states?
  • Yes, the LegalFeeGuard program is also available for cases heard in Georgia courts.
• What happens if I get a subsequent Offer of Judgment after I buy a policy?
  • The LegalFeeGuard policy covers subsequent Proposals for Settlement from the same opposing party for no additional premium up to the policy limits.
• I see that your highest policy limit is $150,000. What if the Offer I received was for more than $150,000?
  • The amount of coverage you buy is the amount of insurance available to pay adverse attorney fees and costs awarded pursuant to a Offer of Judgment if the adverse Offer of Judgment is triggered by the result at trial. This has nothing to do with the proposed settlement amount which is contained in the Offer of Judgment made to you or your client.
• How long does the policy last?
  • The policy lasts from the date the policy is purchased until (1) the date that is thirty days after a judgment for attorney’s fees is entered against the insured, or (2) the voluntary or involuntary dismissal of the litigation, whichever occurs first.
• Can I buy a LegalFeeGuard policy for my case in federal court?
  • Yes. The LegalFeeGuard program is available for cases heard in federal court if based on diversity jurisdiction and applying Florida law.
• Do I need to pay a renewal premium next year?
  • No, the LegalFeeGuard policy only needs to be purchased once, and not every year, like most of lines of insurance.
• Can I cancel the policy in the future?
  • No, the policy is 100% earned at inception, so there will not be any refunds under the policy.
• Can I buy more limits for my policy if the case is going on longer than I thought?
  • No, once you purchase a limit under the policy, that is the limit for the duration of the policy.
• I think my client might have a lot of exposure under the Offer of Judgment statute. Can I buy more than $150,000 of coverage?
  • No, not at this time. The LegalFeeGuard program only provides limits options of $10,000, $25,000, $35,000, $50,000, $75,000, $100,000, $125,000, and $150,000.
• How do I determine the correct Trial Date under the policy?
  • Under the LegalFeeGuard, policy, the "Trial Date" means the date that is the earlier of (a) the scheduled beginning date of the trial for the litigation as reflected on any court’s calendar, or (b) the first day of the trial docket on which the litigation is scheduled for trial on any court’s calendar. Therefore, the Trial Date depends on the type of calendaring system that the court is using in your case.
• What happens if there are multiple opposing parties in my case?
  • The LegalFeeGuard policy does not cover any amounts that are awardable to any party in the litigation other than the opposing party listed in the policy. Therefore, if there are multiple opposing parties, then you would need to determine which opposing party you would like to cover under your policy. You are allowed to purchase one LegalFeeGuard policy for each opposing party in your case. If you have two or more LegalFeeGuard insurance policies for your case, then the limit available under each policy shall be used solely to pay a fee award incurred by the opposing party listed in such policy, and not be used to pay any other attorney’s fees, costs or expenses of any other party to the litigation.
• What happens if the opposing party is dropped from the case?
  • The LegalFeeGuard policy does not cover any amounts that are awardable to any other party in the litigation other than the opposing party listed in the policy. Therefore, if the opposing party listed in the policy is dropped from the case, then the insurable exposure under the policy no longer exists, and thus, no payout will be made under the policy.
• Can I buy the policy using something other than a credit card?
  • Yes. At this time, we accept credit card and ACH as valid payment for the LegalFeeGuard Program.
• Are court costs covered under the policy in addition to attorney's fees?
  • Yes, court costs that are awarded pursuant to the Offer of Judgment statute are covered under the LegalFeeGuard policy.
• I am ready to settle my case with the opposing party. Can I collect for any attorneys fees under the policy?
  • No. The LegalFeeGuard policy only pays for those amounts for which you are deemed to be liable under the Offer of Judgment statute, and the statute does not provide a compensation mechanism for attorney’s fees when litigation is settled.
• Will the carrier assist me in the case and/or trial?
  • No. There is no obligation of the insurer to defend or otherwise assist you in your case and/or trial.
• How do I make a claim under the policy?
  • The policy documents contain a form entitled the “LegalFeeGuard Verdict Notification Form”. To make a claim under the policy, please be sure to complete this form after any adverse verdict that could result in the payment of a claim under the policy, and send it along with the supporting documentation to the carrier’s claims department at the email address listed in the Verdict Notification Form.
• Is a trial required to trigger coverage under the policy?
  • Yes. The LegalFeeGuard insurance policy applies to "Damages as a result of a Final Judgment." Final Judgment is defined in the policy as “the entry of judgment after a contested trial in a nonjury action or the return of a verdict in a jury action.” It will not apply to stipulated, voluntary or involuntary dismissals or losses on motions such as summary judgment.

The information contained in this website is a limited summation of information pertaining to the LegalFeeGuard program. The insurance policy describes the actual terms and conditions and supersedes any information contained herein to the extent of any inconsistency.