subpoena charge

[antoniomelandri]

What is the name of your state? Arkansas/Texas
My case (child custody) is under the Texas jurisdiction, but I had to subpoena documents from the state of Arkansas. Due to my court deadline, the law firm in Arkansas did this on an emergency basis; it was, all in all work of one afternoon. Their total charge shows ca. $200 in expenses (copying, fedex subpoena documents to my attorney in texas, etc), plus ca. $1,300 in services (the hourly rate of the attorney who did this is $165 per hour). Their invoice showed then a $400 discount, so the total charge is $1,100, repeat, more than 1K for filing a subpoena.
I pressed them to give me an itemized invoice, which showed 5 1/2 hours of work (still not accounting for the services that would have charged the extra $400 they "discounted"). Much of those 5 1/2 hours describe "conferences" by the young attorney with his colleagues, which leads me to think the young atty. was learning the process; also, the itemization was lumped together in groups of activities, without specifying how long a certain phone call (several) was, or how long was the examination of documents.
Before I go ahead and file a complaint, is this a plausible charge for filing a subpoena (with a University administration)? (the law firm replied to my first unofficial complaint that this involved dealing with the laws of two states). Thanks. antoniomelandri (not my actual name)What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?

[Mellie2019]

From what I understand, the charge of $1,100 is not for the filing of the subpoena, but for the gathering, copy, fed-ex expense of sending you the information needed in an emergency (aka: Priority) situation. Emergencies don't come cheap.

One Ambulance ride to the hospital 4 miles from home = $1,100
Hospital 4 hours = $550
Doctor Fees = $340

Emergency plumbing service for mainline back-up = $125 minimum

Priority and emergencies are the two words in business that COST the most.

[antoniomelandri]

So, from what you suggest, an attorney, even a trainee to whom this procedure was assigned, who files the subpoena in emergency conditions could plausibly charge more time because he/she works after hours, under stress, or is taking time from other cases? It seems to me that what the law firm charged was billable hours, and that it took some 8 of such hours to file a subpoena. As I said, the invoice describes much of this time as "conferences" with the other attorneys at the firm, or with clerks at the local court house, or with attorneys who were to provide the subpoenaed documentation. Charges included things such as: reviewing email from client and responding (that was one line from me, and one line from the attorney in response), listening to voice mail from other attorney, etc.
So my objections would be the following:
1)the invoice looks padded to me
2)looks like I'm paying for the training process (the frequent conferences with the senior colleagues) of this newly admitted attorney¨
3) I was not told upfront that this could be an exceptional, therefore expensive service - especially after I had expressed my concern about high legal fees.
No one I spoke too considers 1.5k (before the "discount" of $400) as a reasonable charge for filing a subpoena, even if involving two states and fast processing.
Sorry for taking some time before replying

[antoniomelandri]

Although I disgree with Mellie2019 on the issue of emergency service I wish to thank her for the reply, and, for purposes of clarity i concur that this thread should be renamed, focusing on the plausibility of these legal fees, and asking anyone if indeed they are reasonable. Thanks.