Cacciatore Legal: Federal Employment Lawyer Services & Fee Structure 

Cacciatore Legal understands that you are facing a financial crisis, and our fee structure reflects the high-stakes, time-sensitive nature of federal cases.

How does Cacciatore Legal structure legal fees for complex litigation (e.g., wrongful termination, discrimination)?

Our fee structure for high-stakes federal employment litigation is a hybrid system combining a retainer, hourly billing, and a performance based contingency element.

Fixed-Fee Price Plans

We offer two service tiers for:

1. Reasonable Accommodations (RA)
2. Proposed Disciplines (written/oral response)
3. Performance Improvement Plans (PIP)

If your case needs more work than the cap, we’ll step back and reevaluate, and you can choose to upgrade the plan or go hourly. An advanced fee retainer is required for all flat-fee plans. This is ideal for fighting a proposed suspension or helping you secure a reasonable accommodation. Due to the amount of research and discovery required, a rush start fee may apply if fewer than 7 days remain before a filing/response deadline.

Reasonable Accommodation

Client retains Cacciatore Legal to represent them in connection with the client’s request for reasonable accommodation of medical conditions in their current federal employment. This includes related interactive process communications with agency management, human resources, and the reasonable accommodation coordinator (collectively, the “RA Matter”).

• RA Core (up to 7.5 hours)
  • Includes:
    • A records review, including position description, performance standards, prior FMLA/RA paperwork, and an initial set of medical records
    • Up to one strategy conference with the client to identify essential job duties, functional limitations, and potential accommodations.
    • Preparing and/or revising one primary written submission in support of the client’s reasonable accommodation request (for example, an initial RA request) and, if needed, one shorter follow-up email or clarification to the agency.
    • Answering limited provider questions by email regarding the content of requested letters, not to exceed thirty (30) minutes of total provider contact time.
    • Providing the client with a brief email summary of the outcome of the initial RA process and recommended next steps upon conclusion of this phase of representation.
      

If >7.5 hours: convert to hourly or upgrade to Plus.

• RA Plus (up to 11 hours)
  • Includes everything in core plus:
    • Additional strategy conferences with the client if needed.
    • One additional preparation and/or revision of a written submission in support of the client’s reasonable accommodation request.
    • Providing written guidance or template language for medical provider letters focused on functional limitations relevant to the RA request.
    • Communicating as reasonably necessary with up to three of the client’s treating providers to clarify requested documentation, not to exceed a total of one and one-half (1.5) hours of provider-related conference time.
  • Beyond cap: hourly at standard/rush.

Exclusions for RA Core and Plus packages:

• Filing or prosecuting an EEO complaint, union grievance, or MSPB appeal
• Representation in disciplinary or performance (PIP) proceedings
• Representation in any OPM disability retirement application or appeal
• Attendance at formal mediations or hearings, or any other legal matter not expressly described above or outside the eleven (11)-hour cap.
• Any such additional services would require a separate written agreement or a written amendment to the attorney-client agreement.

Proposed Discipline Response

• Discipline Core (up to 12.5 hours) (only for straightforward files / short deadlines)
  • Includes: document review (up to 300 pages), outline, draft response (one round of revisions), 30-minute preparation and oral reply (if scheduled).
    Excludes: multi-witness interviews, deep factual investigation, and post-decision grievance or appeal.

If >12.5 hours: convert to hourly or upgrade to Plus.

• Discipline Plus (up to 17.5 hours)
  • Includes: document review up to 600 pages, up to two witness preps, expanded oral reply preparation, second revision round, and post-meeting follow-up memo.
• Beyond cap: hourly.

Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

For this service, Cacciatore Legal will create a strategy to demonstrate why the PIP is unfair, unreasonable, or that your performance as an employee is not deficient and therefore does not require a PIP.

• PIP Guidance (pre-PIP, up to 4.5 hours)
  • Includes: review performance file, coaching on documentation, manager communication script, and calendar for check-ins.
    Credit: Apply the full fee toward a PIP Defense package if a formal PIP is issued within 60 days.
• PIP Defense (once issued)
  • Standard (up to 12.5 hours): plan, rebuttal memo, weekly check-ins (four, 30-minute meetings), and escalation brief.
  • Enhanced (up to 17.5 hours): Everything in standard, plus draft work product reviews, additional virtual check-ins, and manager communications.
  • Beyond cap: hourly.