How do you bill on this situation?

[Sue Baker]

You have a Monday morning 9am depo downtown in a large city that is set to go most of the day.  You arrive 45 minutes early to set up, video person is there an hour early.  We are ready to roll at 8:55 when we get a call that the depo is rescheduled to 1pm.  Billing-wise, I normally would charge a small app fee, go home and come back at 1pm.  But I got to thinking about it today and I really think since your day is shot and you have to either sit for four hours or drive back and forth, that a per diem would be reasonable.  Of course the client didn't see it that way, but what do you all think?

[Rosalie DeLeonardis]

I would charge a late cancellation/rescheduling fee since you were already there set up and ready to go for the morning depo, and then on your afternoon depo your page rate, plus extra for video, and then an appearance fee also. 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I would stay there and charge them for every hour I have to wait, except lunch.  That happened to me last month sort of.  We were on the record for two hours and then the witness had to go to a meeting for a couple of hours.  I had to wait around for three hours.  No, I charged for it.  Three hours waiting time.  That's what it is.  Do NOT discount your time.  You know there is not an attorney in the room that wouldn't do the same.

[Quyen]

That happened to me before.  I charge an hourly waiting time. I think that's fair and reasonable.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

4 hours waiting @ $40/hour, which is on my rate sheet.   If the dep doesn't start until 10 a.m., say, because of people being late or whatever, I don't charge.  But  a reschedule gets billed for each hour.