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RETAINING
THE ATTORNEY & CLIENT DOCUMENTS
Colorado State Courts - Colorado Springs Municipal Court - Colorado DMV / DOR Hearings
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Colorado Trial Practice 25+ Years
El Paso County & Surrounding Colorado
Counties - Attorney Trade Area |
SOME DOCUMENTS LINKED ON THIS PAGE ARE RESTRICTED BY PASSWORD
TO CLIENTS WHO HAVE RETAINED
If you are using a 56K modem,
patience may be required. Some documents are lengthy
Number of pages and KB size are indicated at each
document link
INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE READ THESE
INSTRUCTIONS
Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5 or later is
required to view .pdf files 
Free Download
All below information to the best of your knowledge is needed to prepare a
written retainer (fee) agreement, supporting authorizations to third persons
for release of information to counsel and to open file. Please be thorough, complete each
item requested, and use FULL LEGAL NAMES - NOT INITIALS.
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I frequently visit with prospective clients by phone. If then
ready to hire counsel, generally within 20-30 minutes of our conversation &
receipt of a
retainer
data information form by fax, US Mail, Fed-X
or hand delivery, the following documents can be
electronically provided for the prospective client’s review. Because charge card account or
other sensitive information may be included, I have provided a .pdf file rather
than an email form
for retainer data.
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Retainer agreement
hardcopy can be provided in
person or .pdf file can be sent via email
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Waiver & authorization to release criminal, driving,
medical, financial, employment or
other confidential records
hardcopy can be provided in
person or .pdf file can be sent via email
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Permission for release of Colorado DMV records
hardcopy can be provided in
person or .pdf file can be sent via email
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Written information packets regarding facts relevant to the
litigation - password required
The
information packet educates me regarding the facts of your case
this enables quality representation.
If you are using a 56K modem,
patience may be required. Some documents are lengthy
Number of pages and KB size are indicated at each
document link.
Access password will be included with retainer agreement
email.
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Retaining counsel can begin with a
simple 
email to the attorney
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This allows:
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Rapid attorney response.
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Time for the prospective
client to consider the terms of the fee agreement in the privacy of his or
her own home or office without pressures of time or my presence.
In 25+ years of practice I’ve
never had a client decline terms of a written fee agreement.
The prospective client has no
obligation at this point, and that’s a comfortable feeling.
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Our first physical meeting
will consist of document execution, receipt of trust deposit, interview
regarding relevant facts. This permits rapid commencement of representation
or litigation after counsel has been retained - there is no delay gathering
facts.
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Completed documents may be returned to counsel by personal delivery,
fax, U.S. Mail or Fed-X. Client assumes the risk of interception if
sent by email image attachment - eg. .jpg .gif or .pdf.
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With fax of executed documents &
subsequent mailing, if the retainer trust deposit is paid by MasterCard,
VISA, Discover Card or American Express, or by deposit to my account in a
national bank, retaining counsel can be accomplished in real time by out of
town, out of state or other clients. Fed-X is not necessary. This
ease of business made possible by electronic transmission is essentially
on-demand or instant gratification.
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Please feel free to call if you are retaining
and have any questions. I have not yet agreed to accept
representation, and I am not your attorney until we have each executed the
retainer (fee) agreement and payment or trust deposit has been received toward
fees and costs. By finding this page you are well on your way to having
the assistance of legal
counsel.
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MINOR
IN POSSESSION
UNDERAGE POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL
Adobe Acrobat Reader
version 5 or later is required to view .pdf files
Free Download |
RETAINER
DATA FORM - Criminal, MIP, DUI & Traffic
3
Pages - Approximate Size 32 KB
- NO PASSWORD - ACCESS UNRESTRICTED
With a call, this information
may also be provided by phone
FACT
SHEET - MIP, DUI, DWAI, DEAC
26
Pages - Approximate Size 82 KB
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ACCESS RESTRICTED BY PASSWORD
I set DUI defense factual interview
appointments as follows.
1. In person interview appointment
during business hours 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday - Friday or
2. Telephone interview appointment commencing 8:30 pm Monday - Thursday.
Evening factual interviews by phone are limited to DUI defense and are not
offered in other legal matters.
3. I do not set evening physical
appointments in any type of case, including DUI defense.
NOTE TO CLIENTS:
a. Completion of the linked
fact sheet and return with sufficient time for me to review before our physical
or phone appointment can reduce the time required during a factual interview.
b. If a client is not thorough
with informational responses on the fact sheet, I prefer to simply glean the
information during our interview and eliminate the fact sheet altogether.
I have found this to be the case with most clients, and honestly do prefer ¶c
below.
c. Simple review of the fact
sheet by the client prior to interview will refresh your recollection and make
us more efficient during our interview. This is probably the best
alternative - review, but don't bother completing the fact sheet.
d. To allow sufficient time
that we are not rushed, I prefer to set DUI defense factual interviews no later
than 3:30 pm or evening phone appointments as indicated above.
ATTORNEY
REPRESENTATION
AND DECLINED MATTERS
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I
welcome representation inquiries however please refer to
first
consultation - the purpose is not to provide free legal advice to the
general public. Unless seeking to retain counsel, please do not email or
call. I do not provide legal opinions, answers or information in response
to questions submitted from non-clients. Given the scope of internet
accessibility I can not be the free "Colorado answer man" and will
politely decline. |
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ALTERNATIVES |
FIND
A LAWYER |
if
you are seeking the below
please refer to above links for helpful information |
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sole practitioner
attorney does not accept these matters |
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a. a pro-bono (free) lawyer
b. an attorney who may take
lower fees - economic hardship
c. an attorney who may take installment payments |
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MID-LITIGATION
REPRESENTATION
alternatives and find a lawyer links
provided as a courtesy |
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Attorney
Policies
Defendant
Pro Se - Attempt to Defend Own Case
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1.
Adequate Time. If sufficient time exists to adequately prepare your
defense and if prospective client approves this
attorney's fees and costs structure, attorney will
likely accept defense representation. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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2.
Insufficient Time. If you've waited until the eleventh hour and there is not
sufficient time to prepare an adequate defense before a contested
court proceeding, please do not call. I decline. |
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3.
Limited Assistance.
Please do not call requesting instruction, directions, legal theory,
forms completion or limited document drafting, partial representation, or an explanation of
applicable law to assist you in defense of your own case. I decline. |
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Attorney
Policies
Representation
by Previous Attorney
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1.
Current Attorney.
Until an order has entered withdrawing representation by an
attorney, an ethical rule violation exists if counsel
knowingly speaks to another attorney's client without current
attorney's consent. This ethical rule governs all
attorneys. Please do not call until after
you have terminated representation by a former attorney.
Please be aware, after
other counsel's withdrawal it may be
difficult for the the new attorney to "catch
up." |
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2.
Adequate Time.
If prospective client terminates employment of the
former attorney, if sufficient time exists to adequately prepare your
defense, and if prospective client approves this
attorney's fees and costs structure, attorney will
likely accept defense representation. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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3.
Insufficient Time. If you've waited until the eleventh hour and there is not
sufficient time to prepare an adequate defense before a contested
court proceeding, please do not call. I decline. |
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4.
Second Opinion.
I will not arm chair quarterback another
attorney's defense tactics or theory of
defense. Please do not call for a second
opinion or an opinion regarding the competence
of your current defense. I decline. |
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POST
SENTENCING MATTERS
PROBATION
REVOCATION * PAROLE VIOLATION
DEFERRED
SENTENCE
REVOCATION * APPEALS |
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Post
Sentencing. I do not accept post sentencing
matters in any criminal, DUI or traffic case unless I provided
representation during the case in chief at the trial court level
and am familiar with the facts,
testimony and exhibits received into evidence, rulings & meritorious issues. That's been my policy for years. Please do
not call or inquire regarding post sentencing matters if you are
not a former client. |
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This
includes appeals or plea to
domestic violence,
MIP,
or other
criminal charge,
DUI,
DEAC
or
DWAI
charge or other
traffic charge
and probation,
deferred
sentence, parole or incarceration or
revocation proceedings based upon alleged failure to comply. |
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Exceptions.
If the underlying criminal case qualifies, refer to
sealing
criminal records. I accept meritorious sealing cases regardless of
whether or not you are a former client. NOTICE:
alcohol related traffic offenses, other traffic offenses or traffic
infractions are a specifically excluded in the
sealing
statute and can not be sealed. If relevant, I also accept
meritorious
collateral
attack cases.
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Attorney Trade Area and Travel
CASES OUTSIDE EL PASO COUNTY
GEOGRAPHIC
DISTANCE
ECONOMIC
CONSIDERATIONS |
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Colorado is a big state. |
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Ease of internet access, email and toll free
phone doesn't change that fact. Due to the limited nature of this issue,
it is not economically justifiable for a client to pay travel time or
expenses beyond adjacent counties. |
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Attorney has limited his
trade area due to economic considerations. |
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Attorney is very willing to travel
outside the Colorado Springs area to present or defend a case,
but please be aware travel time, mileage and expense would
apply. If you are from out of state or are unfamiliar with
Colorado geography, refer to the map to determine where
Colorado Springs
is located in relation to the county of your court case or
hearing. |
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| COUNTIES |
CITIES / TOWNS |
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If travel is
necessary, a
trust deposit
would be required to cover anticipated travel time, mileage &
expenses. If it is not economically justifiable to retain
my services with travel, please contact counsel in the locale of
your case. |
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El Paso County |
Colorado Springs / Manitou
Springs / Fountain |
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Douglas County |
Castle Rock |
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Elbert County |
Kiowa / Simla |
I welcome new cases. Intent is not to be harsh
or to discard potential new business, but to be practical. |
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Crowley County |
Ordway |
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Fremont County |
Canon City / Florence / Penrose |
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Pueblo County |
Pueblo |
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Teller County |
Cripple Creek / Woodland Park |
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Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5 or
later is required to view .pdf files 
Free Download
| please feel free
to call or email if you are a client or are seeking representation |
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FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
not an offer for free legal advice - refer to link for terms
attorney is a sole practitioner with need to manage his caseload
attorney reserves the right to decline any legal matter |
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GUSTAFSON LAW OFFICE TOPICAL
WEBSITES |
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Topical Website Copyright © 2003
- All Rights Reserved - Document Revised
July 14, 2008
no copyright claimed to images other than photograph and law office logo
Topical Website Initial Publication Date: January 9, 2004
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