Lawyers and the AOPA Legal Services Plan!

[Coool Hand Luke]

Yes, I know that "lawyer" is a dirty word, but does anyone have any experience with the AOPA Legal Services Plan? I've heard that actually trying to use it is a joke. One of the only reasons I still belong to AOPA is for this insurance, but if it won't help me if I ever need it I'll just save the money and drop my membership and the insurance.

 

[ms6073]

While I have no experience with the AOPA legal plan, I have had spoken with one AOPA's medical specialists who offered good guidance at the time I needed it. I also enjoyed a bit of comfort by the fact that the additional $$ I was spending each year on the AOPA Legal Services plan assured that I had at least marginal legal representation should I have to deal with FAA if a situation escallated to the point of an enforcement action. I would offer that the program is similar in scope to programs like Pre-Paid Legal - a program which does not enjoy a very stellar reputation, but that probably has more to do with the aggressive marketing of the program than the actual services offered but again I have no experience in exercising the benefits of either service and thus can not say one way or the other.

One thing to consider, how many attorneys in your area specialize or have experience dealing with FAA enforcement actions? It is my understanding that like many legal matters, face-to-face dealings with the FAA is usually a very small percentage of the time involved in dealing with an enforcement action. Dealing with the riggors of jumping through the FAA's many hoops will require countless hours of legal research.

My wife is an attorney and her firm, while not involved in aviation, does not offer free consultations. In fact, if an individual or firm wanted to seek legal advice on a matter that falls within the firms areas of expertise, it would cost $$$ to simply retain the firm's represenation. Ask yourself if the dollars you spend each year for AOPA's Legal Services plan are worth it when compared with the possibility of incurring legal expenses that could easily surpass 2-5 years (or more) worth of annual earnings.

 

[satpak77]

Yes, I know that "lawyer" is a dirty word, but does anyone have any experience with the AOPA Legal Services Plan? I've heard that actually trying to use it is a joke. One of the only reasons I still belong to AOPA is for this insurance, but if it won't help me if I ever need it I'll just save the money and drop my membership and the insurance.

I think you should go ahead and save yourself the 29 bucks a year (one night with wife at Outback, PF Chang, etc)

When you need an attorney, go ahead and pay $175 an hour for his help.

That makes alot of sense

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

Well I've heard (yea, one of those deals) that if you call someone listed in the plan that once they find out you are covered under the plan they don't want to do any work for you. Of course I can not imagine that these lawyers that represent themselves as part of the plan and take our "retainer" each year would then refuse service if needed. Yea right. I can just hear the excuses now:

-He's not in the office, can I have him call you back? (which they never do)
-My case load is full, call me back in a month
-On vacation (probably flying around in his Bonanza endangering his family, the flying public in general, and not to mention all of us)

 

[Trogdor]

Here is a story from a 121 operator that I have been told from reliable sources, I will try to keep it somewhat vague to protect those involved.

During climbout a cabin door popped open, the crew was able to safely return the aircraft to the runway without incident. The crew secured the aircraft and evacuated the passengers. Once things quieted down a little, the FO called AOPA from his cell. The lady he got ahold of told him, don't answer any questions, help is on the way. With in 30 minutes, a lawyer sent by AOPA landed at the airport in his personal aircraft and took control of the situation, from a legal standpoint. The FO had a much easier, and cheaper, time dealing with the Feds than the Captain did.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Well I've heard (yea, one of those deals) that if you call someone listed in the plan that once they find out you are covered under the plan they don't want to do any work for you.

Sorry you have had that experience (I can't mimagine you'd make that up or use unverified reporst just because you don't like lawyers). On the other hand, there's the pilot who recently told his AOPA reffered lawyer, "Im amazed. You're the first lawyer I ever spoke to who answers his phone on the first ring."

There will be good people and bad people in this group (like every other group). Some lawyers are much harder to get ahold of than others. Not returning phone calls is an illness for some.

That's probably why the plan usually gives you at least 3 different names and phone numbers to call.