Help, I was subpoenaed today to appear tomorrow!

[Julia Young]

Owner ordered appraisal by phone. Said I might be subpoenaed to testify in court to defend my appraisal. Did not know him-never saw him before. His mother met me for the appraisal appointment and let me in. Mom paid my fee with her own check. Son in middle of divorce case and tells me he is due in court Tuesday(tomorrow-3-12-02) on a divorce hearing. Never mentioned I might be subpoenaed for THAT hearing. So the server and son are on my doorstep and I am served just minutes before the appraisal comes rolling off the printer and is delivered to Son, to appear hearing at 10:00 tomorrow. I have never testified re appraisals in anything but tax hearings in the assessor's office. Client led me to believe wife's attorney challenging appraisal and might call me when it is actually reversed. I told him I charged $50.00 an hour to testify (yeh, I know that's not enough)and that I usually had more time than one day notice. Still I am staring at a subpoena served by his attorney commanding me to be in court tomorrow at 10:00. I have no agreement from anyone to reimburse me for my time and no opportunity to prepare mentally or anything. I seriously need some tips from some of "you guys" out there so I don't end up looking like a fool and not get paid to do this. Must be an easier way to make a living. The $300 I got for this appraisal sure isn't worth the hassle. I feel duped because he knew his attorney was going to call me last week, probably ordered him to get the appraisal, and didn't tell me.
Help!!
Julia

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Julia,

Scroll down in this forum to the post Subpoena, you may find some answers there right away or click on:

http://www.appraisersforum.com/forums/view...topic.php?t=609

to get there.

Good luck.

Ben

 

[Julia Young]

Thanks for sending me to the right post topic. I read every post and feel a little better now. I noted they did not include in my subpoena "expert witness"---just "show up with file."
Julia

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Good Luck Julia!

If the attorney hedges on paying you 'expert witness' fees, just tell him that with so little time to prepare, you forgot to take your estrogen, can't remember a thing since you arrived at the courthouse and the mood swings tend to get really bizarre so you can't be held responsible for what you might say. :lol:

Don't worry, just keep up the confidence and don't expand on any answers. Keep it really simple. The posts on that thread were very good!

Let us know what happens!

 

[TEL2002]

Julia,

What was the outcome of your testimony? The apprisal world is waiting to hear how it went.

 

[Larry Lyke]

Julia --

Where art Thou?

How did the good advice you received from the Forum turn out for you?

 

[jwand125]

after telling attorney that you were not hired and or paid as an expert witness, your time is valuable don't let lawyer use you. judge will understand, have a figure in head for compensation