According to Pew research, in approximately three out of four civil cases in America, at least one side will not have legal representation. In cases where an individual is up against a powerful institution, the institution secures legal representation while the individual does not – almost 90% of the time.
Facing countless barriers to justice, from poverty to disability to lack of education about America’s legal system, individuals often struggle to get the legal representation they need, and in turn, the justice they deserve.
Fortunately, the tides begin to change when a trial lawyer enters the mix. Since trial attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis, their clients – those who’ve struggled otherwise to secure representation – aren’t expected to pay unless they win their case or reach a settlement. Not to mention, a trial lawyer’s expertise and intimate knowledge of the country’s court systems improve a plaintiff’s chance at success.
That is perhaps the largest benefit: plaintiffs with legal representation are more likely to win their case or reach a settlement than those without representation, according to Pew data.
But still, trial attorneys must always expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. Reza Torkzadeh, founder and CEO of his law firm, TorkLaw, knows that firsthand. And that nimbleness is how he’s helped his clients face some of our nation’s most pressing civil legal issues.
Taking Action, No Matter the Opponent
One of those pressing issues is called ‘a complaint against a city,’ or when a plaintiff alleges that a city’s law and/or policy has either harmed citizens or put them in harm’s way. It’s also a type of case that Reza is intimately familiar with at his Los Angeles, California–based personal injury and accident law firm.
For example, Reza remembers a tragic, wrongful death case that helped shine a light on the city’s negligence toward an unsafe intersection.
“Our client was struck by a car at an intersection which we believed was very dangerous. We argued that the city knew it was dangerous because there was a 25-year history of accidents at that intersection,” said Reza.
More than 100 accidents, to be exact. During the trial, the TorkLaw team argued that with minimal expense, the city had every opportunity to install stop signs or traffic lights to prevent further accidents. Still, they ultimately lost.
But it was a loss that only proved TorkLaw’s ability to affect change where it mattered most…even in defeat.
“After the trial, the city made all the changes [we proposed]. So even though we lost, no one will ever get killed at that intersection again. All of the safeguards we argued for are in place, and [now] it's probably one of the safest intersections in the city,” said Reza.
Though it might be daunting to pursue litigation against a city, trial lawyers like Reza serve as champions for everyday people who don’t have the means to take on a city themselves, despite the strength of their case. In this way, TorkLaw can contribute to the future wellbeing of every community it touches.
“The work that we do, the resources that we put towards representing every individual client and their families, is ultimately aimed at providing a better future for the people we get to represent,” said Reza.
Extending Access to Justice For All
It takes intelligence, guts and a whole lot of determination to take on important civil cases like pursuing litigation against a city. But it also takes financial wherewithal – a common critique of the contingency fee model.
And because taking a case to trial can cost an exorbitant amount of upfront expenses for discovery and case resources, it can pose a tremendous burden for contingency fee law firms, especially as case volumes increase. That’s why top plaintiffs law firms across the country partner with Esquire Bank to gain the liquidity and access to capital they need to pay for essential case disbursements.
“When we met with Esquire Bank, it was incredible to finally hear a bank say, ‘Look, we understand your business. We understand what it takes. We understand how expensive litigation is and we want to walk alongside you,’” said Reza.
“Esquire understands the impact our work has on the community and the impact that it has on the lives of those we represent.”
Explore More Stories of Social Justice
Discover Reza Torkzadeh’s full story, learn about other trial lawyers across the nation and see how flexible financing solutions from Esquire Bank enable law firms to attain justice and client success at justice.esquirebank.com.
