AOPA legal services plan

[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

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