Fee Dispute & Binding Arbitration Policy

Leavitt Eldredge Law Firm (Eldredge Law Firm, LLC)
Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Purpose

Leavitt Eldredge Law Firm is committed to fair and transparent billing. We recognize that fee disagreements can arise even in the best attorney-client relationships. This Policy establishes a structured, binding process for resolving those disputes efficiently, confidentially, and without the expense and adversarial nature of litigation.

By retaining the firm and signing the Client Intake and Attorney Engagement Agreement, you agree to this Fee Dispute & Binding Arbitration Policy as a material term of the engagement.

Mandatory Fee Dispute Resolution Process

Any dispute with respect to the engagement agreement or as to the amount of legal fees shall be resolved through the following mandatory process. No party may initiate litigation, file a credit card chargeback, or pursue any other formal remedy related to fees without first completing this process.

Step 1 — Direct Resolution with the Firm

Contact the firm in writing at [email protected] to describe the nature of your fee concern. The firm will review the matter and respond in writing within 14 business days. Many fee questions can be resolved at this stage through explanation, adjustment, or a mutually agreeable payment arrangement.

Step 2 — Binding Arbitration

If Step 1 does not resolve your concern, the dispute shall be submitted for final and binding arbitration as follows:

(a) Primary Forum — Tarrant County Bar Association Fee Dispute Committee

If the entire dispute can and will be heard by the Fee Dispute Committee of the Tarrant County Bar Association, then that shall be the forum for arbitration. The Fee Dispute Committee is a neutral panel that includes both attorneys and public members and is specifically designed to resolve fee disagreements between attorneys and their clients.

(b) Fallback Forum — American Arbitration Association

If the entire dispute cannot or will not be heard by the Fee Dispute Committee of the Tarrant County Bar Association, then the entire dispute shall be submitted for arbitration before the American Arbitration Association.

(c) Arbitration Procedures

The arbitration shall be decided by one arbitrator and the place of arbitration shall be in Arlington, Texas. A judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. Unless the parties otherwise agree, the arbitration will be governed by the substantive and procedural laws of the State of Texas. The controversies and claims subject to arbitration shall include, but not be limited to, any controversy or claim by and between the firm and/or any of its attorneys, employees, or agents in connection with the engagement.

(d) Discovery

Unless the parties otherwise agree, each party may conduct discovery prior to any arbitration hearing in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence. There shall be no evidence by affidavit allowed, and each party shall disclose a list of all documentary evidence to be used and a list of all witnesses and experts to be called at least twenty (20) days prior to the arbitration hearing.

(e) Last-Best-Offer Arbitration

Each party shall submit to the arbitrator and exchange with each other in advance of the hearing their last, best offers. The arbitrator shall be limited to awarding only one or the other of the two figures submitted. The prevailing party shall also be entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees.

Both parties agree to participate in good faith in the arbitration process and to comply with the applicable rules and procedures of the selected forum.

Step 3 — Further Action

The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both parties. Nothing in this Policy limits your right to file a grievance with the State Bar of Texas or the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline at any time regarding matters other than fee disputes (such as allegations of professional misconduct unrelated to fees).

Credit Card Chargebacks

You agree that you will not initiate a credit card chargeback or payment dispute with your bank or credit card company regarding any fees paid to the firm unless the arbitration process described above has resulted in a final and binding determination that the disputed fee should be refunded to you, in whole or in part.

If you initiate a chargeback without first completing the binding arbitration process described above, you agree that this constitutes a material breach of the engagement agreement and that the firm is entitled to recover liquidated damages equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the amount of the chargeback (the chargeback amount plus an additional penalty equal to 100% of the chargeback amount). This amount represents a reasonable pre-estimate of the firm’s damages from an unauthorized chargeback, including administrative costs, merchant processing fees, operational disruption, collections expenses, and the loss of the contractual dispute resolution process. This provision does not limit the firm’s right to seek other remedies available at law or in equity.

Good Faith Communications

Both the firm and the client acknowledge the importance of honest, accurate communication, including in any public forum. The parties agree that:

• Either party may share truthful accounts of their experience with the engagement, subject to the client’s right to confidentiality of privileged communications and the attorney’s ethical obligation to protect client confidences.
• The firm encourages clients who are dissatisfied to use the dispute resolution process described above before making public statements about the engagement. The arbitration process provides a confidential, neutral forum that often resolves concerns more effectively than public commentary.
• Both parties acknowledge that knowingly false statements of fact made publicly about the other party may give rise to a claim for defamation under Texas law. Nothing in this Policy restricts either party’s right to share truthful information or honest opinions.
• In the event of a public dispute, the client acknowledges that the firm may respond to the extent permitted by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to correct factual inaccuracies, while continuing to protect client confidences.

Governing Law, Performance & Forum

This Policy is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. All fees for legal services and costs are payable in Tarrant County, Texas. Any contractual obligation undertaken by the firm or the Client under this Policy or the related engagement agreement shall be performable in Tarrant County, Texas. To the extent any matter is not subject to arbitration under this Policy, any litigation arising from or related to this Policy shall be venued exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Tarrant County, Texas, and each party consents to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.