FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND WHO TO CONTACT
What services does the City Attorney’s Office provide?
The City Attorney’s Office and its staff provide legal services to the Vacaville City Council and City Departments. The Office provides a wide assortment of services to the City, such as representing the City in litigation involving the City, preparing ordinances and resolutions, reviewing and preparing contracts, and advising the Vacaville City Council and City Departments on various legal matters. The Office does not provide legal services to members of the general public.
How can I find an attorney?
You may contact the Solano County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service at (707) 422-0127 for lawyers within the Solano County area. The Lawyer Referral Service can refer you to an experienced attorney, if you need one. There is a $35 administration fee for the initial appointment with a staff interviewer who will assist you in determining whether you need an attorney. The interviewer is available weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The $35 fee entitles you to a half-hour consultation with an attorney. However, if you have been injured, the fee is waived. For further information, visit www.solanobar.org/LRS.htm.
How can I obtain legal services if I cannot afford an attorney?
You may contact Legal Services of Northern California at (800) 270-7252 or (707) 643-0054. Their website is www.lsnc.net. Consultations with volunteer attorneys are also available at the Vacaville Public Library, 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687 the first and third Tuesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The appointment line begins at 4:00 p.m. with appointments being taken at 4:05 p.m. The staff will take your name, assign you a number and give you an information sheet to be completed and given to the attorney later. Attorney visits start at 6:00 p.m. and are taken in numerical order. The volunteer attorney can provide brief assistance with your legal problem. This program is free of charge. Space is limited, however, as they are usually able to accommodate only fifteen appointments per evening for up to twenty minutes apiece. If you have further questions, please call (707) 449-6290 or visit www.solanolibrary.com/programs/program.cfm?id=1488.
Finally, for low-income individuals, LawHelpCalifornia.org is a web site that provides links to organizations offering low-cost or free legal services. It also provides information to targeted communities, such as seniors and Native Americans, about issues particular to those communities.
Where is the closest law library?
Legal publications are available for review at the Solano County Law Library located on the third floor of the Hall of Justice building, located at 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533. The library is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is closed on court holidays. It is open to the public to do legal research. The phone number is (707) 421-6520.
What if I am having a problem with my neighbor or a business?
The Dispute Resolution Service may be your best resource. This is a community-based conflict resolution program, which the Solano County Bar Association/Dispute Resolution Service offers at little or no cost to Solano County residents and businesses.
Here are a few situations where you might want to consider this service:
· Consumer claims
· Neighborhood conflicts
· Insurance claims
· Personal injury disputes
· Business disputes
· Property damage claims
· Landlord-tenant matters
If you are considering filing a small claims lawsuit, consider calling the Dispute Resolution Service first. They will advise you whether your matter or dispute is amenable to mediation and, if it is and you agree, they will contact the other party and invite that party to participate in non-judicial mediation, which might resolve the issue or dispute without formal litigation. Be mindful, however, if you decide instead to pursue the matter through litigation, the filing of a law suit is subject to time limitation periods in which the suit must be filed. The limitation period generally runs from the date the injury or damage occurred and continues to run even as the parties explore alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation. For more information on the services provided by the Dispute Resolution Service, call (707) 442-5087, fax (707) 442-3860 or visit www.solanobar.org/ADRS.htm.
For information about consumer complaints, please refer to the State Department of Consumer Affairs website at www.dca.ca.gov.
What is Small Claims Court?
If you are an individual or an individual DBA (“doing business as”) and your claim for damages is $7,500 or less, you might consider pursuing your action through small claims court where the parties are not allowed to be represented by an attorney. The parties must present their own cases to a judge. Actions must be brought within certain time periods, which may vary depending upon the nature of the case. Generally speaking, these time periods are set forth in Sections 312 - 363 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, which can be accessed at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
You cannot file more than two small claim cases anywhere in California for more than $2,500 during a calendar year. Papers for filing a small claims case can be obtained from the Solano County Superior Court Civil Division, 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533. Their phone number is (707) 421-7435. There is a nominal fee for filing your case and an additional fee if you need to have your papers served on the opposing party. You may recover your filing and service fees if you win your case. If you cannot afford these fees, the court may, in its discretion, waive them if you complete an Application for Waiver of Court Fees and Costs which is available from the court clerk.
For further information concerning small claims court and the Solano County Superior Court, please visit the Court’s website at www.solanocourts.com.
OTHER RESOURCES
The California Courts’ web site has a Self-Help Center at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp. In addition, interactive court forms published by the Judicial Council of California are available at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms. These are the same forms commonly used by attorneys throughout California. The California Superior Court’s web site provides an interactive program that can assist you in completing the forms necessary to request or respond to papers for a variety of legal issues. Visit http://www.ezlegalfile.com/go.jsp?act=actShowHome.
Individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria for low-cost legal services may call the California State Bar to find the nearest lawyer referral service. The number for callers in California (toll-free) is 1-866-442-2529. The number for callers outside of California is 415-538-2250.
