SOBC Darag Group (4050)

SOBC Darag (4050) Monthly billing – SIMS

• Invoices containing entries for services performed more than 180 days before the invoice is received will not be paid
• Final invoice should be billed immediately and not held until the end of the closing month
• A budget is required within 15 days of accepting a new assignment
• When paralegals are used, it is expected that the same paralegal(s) are used to assist in all assignments 
• Multiple attendance requires prior approval from the claim handler
  • If approval is missing, SOBC Darag will pay for only one law firm member’s attendance at any event (e.g., depositions, hearings, and negotiation sessions)
• Intra-office conferences or communications to other members of the law firm are not billable unless written approval is provided by the claims handler for strategy discussions
• Copies of deposition transcripts should be made available upon request
  • Deposition summaries should be limited to two (2) pages per witness per day of testimony; client will not pay for the time spent drafting anything outside of two pages
• Blocked or combined billing is not approved
• Retention of experts requires prior deliberation with the claims handler
  • Experts are to bill SOBC directly
• Vendors responsible for direct payment (SOBC will not reimburse payments made to direct bill vendors)
  • Magna Legal Services: record retrieval, court reporting and litigation services
  • EK Health/Expert Exams: medical record reviews and IMEs
• Client will pay reimbursable expenses incurred by the law firm on behalf of the client
  • Must provide adequate description to identify the necessity of the costs at issue

Travel: 

• Travel 25 miles or less round trip is considered Local Travel and is not billable
  • Any expenses associated with Local Travel are also not reimbursable, except parking and tolls which will be reimbursed at actual cost
• Travel more than 25 miles roundtrip is considered Long Distance Travel
  • Long Distance Travel requires written preapproval from the client (airfare, car rental, car fare, lodging, meals and other similar expenses)
• Aside from local travel, all travel time is billable at one-half (1/2) of the timekeeper’s approved hourly rate
• Airplane travel should be coach class
• Meals to be reimbursed for out of town travel at $75.00/day
• Hotels will be reimbursed up to $250 per night in major US cities and $200 per night outside of major cities