AOPA legal services plan

[Flying Illini]

I'm debating shelling out the extra cash for this but before I do, I figured it would be a good idea to get some feedback on what others thought of the program.
So, whadyathink?

 

[ShawnC]

Well coming out of the Mass lawsuit (where a local anti-GA group sued a set of pilots), it seems it takes some finagling to get them to pay for you defense unless it's the Feds coming after you.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

You should check into the progress of the AOPA strike before hopping on board with their services, IMHO. Never know.

seriously, last I heard bruce was getting really serious about it

 

[SkyGuyEd]

I'm on the plan cuz the $20 gave me peace of mind.... but honestly I don't know if it's worth it

What's this about the AOPA strike?

 

[Traumahawk]

What's this about the AOPA strike?

It is, unfortunately, entirely true. The volunteers have had enough and will begin picketing sometime between now and Christmas. You can order your signs, bumper stickers and rotten fruit at www.planehpn.com

Boyer has gone into hiding and rumor has it Richard Daley will be leading the charge.

T-Hawk

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I would recommend paying for this service.

It saved the a$$ of one of our pilots previously. The crew violated airspace, and the company lawyer was going to fix everything with the FAA. Then, the FO got his own lawyer, and the Capt would've been screwed without this service, as he was forced to get HIS own lawyer to defend against his CP's lawyer.

I believe both the Capt and FO came out of it without a violation.

I don't know much more detail than that as it was some years before I got on with the co.

I bought the service and I'm glad I have it.

Cliff
GRB

 

[Toy Soldier]

It is reasonably priced. I figure that it's better to get it now than to wish I had it later (hindsight being 20/20 and all).

 

[SSDD]

WOW! Who dug this up from 2003?

 

[Way2Broke]

Who knows, but it's expensive for ATP coverage. (something like 99 bucks I think) You would think it would be expensive for Private Pilots and cheaper for ATPs. I dropped the plan a couple of years ago.

 

[tathepilot]

Well worth it... Long story short, few years ago up in JFK Bravo, I was making the turn on that airway that goes over JKF VOR. I got a phone call 2.5 months later saying there was a loss of separation. The feds initially said it was controller error, that is why it took so long for the call. I called AOPA, the attorney contacted the feds and about a month later I got a letter saying it was a mistake... whew...

 

[avbug]

You'll get more bang for your buck if you go with PrePaid Legal.

The AOPA plan has a clause which states that you're not covered for the appeal process. Nearly all enforcement action IS the appeal process...seeing as you're already convicted from the word go. Remember, you don't appeal enforcement action...you appeal the conviction, because you're guilty until proven innocent.

Consulting with an attorney in the very early stages should always be done, but if you're really up the creek, that's the small end of the stick compared to what it's going to cost to fight it...and you'll need a good legal plan for that. AOPA doesn't have a place for it. AOPA's is a fairly cheap insurace plan and may be of benifit if you don't have any legal issues about which to worry...but if you do it won't help you much.

Sort of like their life insurance...the one that doesn't cover you if you die in a light airplane mishap. Go figure...

 

[Swass]

Somebody voted on the poll, brought it to the top.

 

[Way2Broke]

You'll get more bang for your buck if you go with PrePaid Legal.

The AOPA plan has a clause which states that you're not covered for the appeal process. Nearly all enforcement action IS the appeal process...seeing as you're already convicted from the word go. Remember, you don't appeal enforcement action...you appeal the conviction, because you're guilty until proven innocent.

Consulting with an attorney in the very early stages should always be done, but if you're really up the creek, that's the small end of the stick compared to what it's going to cost to fight it...and you'll need a good legal plan for that. AOPA doesn't have a place for it. AOPA's is a fairly cheap insurace plan and may be of benifit if you don't have any legal issues about which to worry...but if you do it won't help you much.

Sort of like their life insurance...the one that doesn't cover you if you die in a light airplane mishap. Go figure...

Which pre-paid legal plan do you recommend?

 

[avbug]

http://www.prepaidlegal.com/

Depending on how much you're willing to spend (it's a fraction of what you'd spend if you ever need it),you can get hundreds of hours of legal representation by thousands of attorneys throughout the country, as well as plans that cover everything from your credit to identity theft.

 

[tathepilot]

Give me a shout if you need Pre-paid legal..

 

[lowtimedriver]

I'm on the plan cuz the $20 gave me peace of mind.... but honestly I don't know if it's worth it

What's this about the AOPA strike?

It is. I had to use it once and I got a 300.00 per hour attorney for free. AOPA rocks.

 

[midlifeflyer]

The AOPA plan has a clause which states that you're not covered for the appeal process. Nearly all enforcement action IS the appeal process...seeing as you're already convicted from the word go. Remember, you don't appeal enforcement action...you appeal the conviction, because you're guilty until proven innocent.

Would you mind pointing out that clause? The one I'm familiar with covers the first 25 hours for the ALJ trial, and the first 15 hours of the review by the full NTSB on an 80%/20% basis with the pilot paying the 20% of the AOPA-reduced fees.

 

[avbug]

I cannot point out the clause, as I don't have the insurance. Perhaps the policy has changed. I had it (insurance and membership), read it, dismissed it as a waste, and got good legal coverage. If they're offering to cover you during your appeal now, that's great. In times past, that was NOT the case.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I don't think that obtaining plan coverage information requires membership. At least the url doesn't appear to be in the member only section.

http://www.aopa.org/info/certified/lsp_certificate.pdf

If not, here's the appeals language

==============================
3. Representation in Appeals. For the following appeals from FAA enforcement actions described in A2 above, the Plan will pay 80%
of attorney fees incurred (you are obligated to pay the remaining 20%), at a rate of up to $152/hour, up to the hourly limits stated.
a. Appeal to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level--Limit: 25 hours.
b. Appeal of an ALJ decision to the full NTSB--Limit: 15 hours.
c. A petition by the FAA for the judicial review of an NTSB Order--Limit: 50 hours.
==============================

btw, the $152 recently went up to $167.