Columbus City Schools

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Benefits Proudly Offered to Columbus City Schools' Employees

Be fully prepared and confident

with LegalEASE

Learn about legal benefits, a smart option for your protection.

LegalEASE can help ease the two biggest stresses -finding and paying for an attorney.

Nobody likes to be caught off guard, especially when it comes to legal matters. Life can be complicated. Finding a good attorney doesn’t have to be. With LegalEASE, it’s easy to choose the best attorney, because you get assistance from highly trained and qualified personal specialists who review the details of local attorneys and help you find your best source for legal advice. Being a LegalEASE member saves you time and costly legal fees. But most importantly, it gives you confidence and provides coverage for common legal matters.

With a LegalEASE plan, you get:

An attorney with expertise specific to your legal matter
Access to a national network of attorneys with exceptional experience that are matched to meet your needs
Coverage for in and out-of-network
Concierge help finding a better attorney and navigating common individual or family legal issues
Hours of financial counseling and coaching

We all make some sort of plan in life. But have you ever considered the possibility of a legal problem?

You've graduated from college and are planning for your future - where to get hired, which company will put you on the path to success. Whether to be single or date or settle down, and with the right person. Legal problems can be unexpected and interrupt your plans. LegalEASE provides coverage for your specific legal matter so you won't be caught off guard.

Protect your family’s future, with LegalEASE.

You work hard to make the right choices for your loved ones, especially when it comes to legal and financial matters. Get the peace of mind you want and the protection you need with a LegalEASE Plan. LegalEASE offers valuable benefits to shield your family and savings from unexpected legal issues.

According to the American Bar Association, more than 70 percent of U.S. households will have the need for a lawyer in the next 12 months. And the same study found most consumers feel uncertain about how to tell a good lawyer from a bad one. With LegalEASE you have access to a national network of credentialed attorneys and the help you need to find the best attorney for your legal matter with its concierge service.

Coverage

The Value of a LegalEASE Benefits Plan.

Being a LegalEASE benefits plan member saves you time and costly legal fees. But most importantly, it gives you confidence and provides coverage for:

Home and Residential
Financial and Money Matters
Consumer
Auto and Driving
Family and Personal
Civil Lawsuits
Estate planning and wills

LegalEASE Benefits Plan Coverage

Benefits are designed to meet the typical needs of an employee and their family. There are no deductibles to worry about for covered services. Benefits cover the attorney’s time. Other costs such as filing fees or court costs are not covered. Listed below are the types of matters that are covered by the LegalEASE benefits plan. This plan offers the convenience of in-network and out-of-network benefits. Many of the below areas are fully covered in-network.

Plan Cost

The LegalEASE Plan is $16.09 monthly, via payroll deduction.

Who's Covered?

The Member’s spouse and Member’s unmarried dependent children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children, children placed in the home for adoption and foster children, up to age 26.

Schedule of Benefits
Advice and Consultation	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Telephone Advice	Covered	Not Applicable
Office Consultation	Covered	Not Applicable
Review of Simple Documents	Covered	Not Applicable
Financial Advisor	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Financial Helpline	Covered	Not Applicable
Online Self Service Document Center	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Consumer Documents	Covered	Not Applicable
Estate Planning Documents	Covered	Not Applicable
Identity Theft Prevention/Recovery Assistance	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Advice and Consultation	Covered	Not Applicable
Miscellaneous Law Office Services	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Covered Miscellaneous Hours	Covered up to 10 hours	$595
Discounted Hourly Rate	25% Discount on Attorney's Hourly Rates	Not Applicable
Consumer Matters	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Document Preparation: Simple Deed Promissory Note Consumer Dispute Correspondence Installment Sales Agreement Simple Affidavit General Power of Attorney: Member & Covered Family Member Lease Agreement - Tenant only Time Share Agreement	Covered	$65 $55 $55 $55 $55 $55 $65 $55
Consumer Dispute	Covered	$595
Small Claims Court Reprsentation	Covered	$300
Construction/Renovation/Home Repair Dispute	Covered	$895
Mail Order or Internet Purchase Dispute	Covered	$300
Bank Fee Dispute	Covered	$300
First-time Vehicle Buyer	Covered	$300
Vehicle Repair and Lemon Law Litigation	Covered	$300
Cell Phone Contract Dispute Contract review up to 25 pages Representation	Covered	$300
Personal Property Protection	Covered	$300
Warranty Dispute Warranty review up to 25 pages Representation	Covered	$300
Healthcare Coverage Disputes and Records Office Consultation Document Preparation Document Review	Covered	$300
Identity Theft Defense	Covered	$850
Estate Planning	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Simple Will or Codicil for: Member Spouse Covered Family Member	Covered	$80
Complex Will	Covered	$310
Living Will	Covered	$55
Health Care Power of Attorney	Covered	$55
Durable Power of Attorney For Healthcare	Covered	$55
Living Trust Document	Covered	$310
Probate of Small Estate	Covered up to 2 Hours with remainder at 25% discount	$120
Elder Law	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Elder Parent Will Preparation	Covered	$80
Elder Parent Living Will/Health Care or Advance Directive	Covered	$55
Elder Parent Durable Financial Power of Attorney	Member co-pay $45 per document	Not Applicable
Elder Parent Health Care or Medical Power of Attorney	Member co-pay $45 per document	Not Applicable
Elder Law Matters	Covered	$425
Residential Matters	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Purchase of Primary Residence	Covered	$490
Sale of Primary Residence	Covered	$365
Refinancing of Primary Residence	Covered	$385
First Time Home-Buyer	Covered	$425
Vacation or Investment Home Sale/Purchase/Refinancing	Covered	$425
Home Equity Loan Assistance	Covered	$360
Property Tax Assessment	Covered	$360
Property Tax Dispute	Covered	$360
Tenant Dispute	Covered	$1,700
Tenant Security Deposit Dispute	Covered	$850
Landlord Dispute with Tenant	Pre-litigation: Covered up to 10 hours with remainder at 25% discount Trial: Covered up to 10 hours with remainder at 25% discount	$595
Security Deposit Dispute with Tenant	Covered up to 10 hours with remainder at 25% discount	$595
Construction Defect Dispute	Covered	$425
Neighbor Dispute	Covered	$765
Noise Reduction Dispute	Covered	$765
Boundary or Title Dispute	Covered	$595
Zoning Application	Covered	$595
Financial Matters	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Debt Collection Defense: Pre-Litigation Defense	Covered	$425
Debt Collection Defense: Trial Defense	Covered	$850
Garnishment Defense	Covered	$850
Bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or 13)	Covered	$935
Foreclosure	Covered	$680
Tax Audit	Covered	$1,700
Tax Defense	Covered	$850
Student Loan Refinancing/Collection Defense	Covered	$420
Family Matters	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Separation, Divorce, Civil Annulment: Uncontested Separation	Covered	$595
Consent/Default Divorce	Covered	$595
Uncontested Divorce	Covered	$595
Contested Divorce	Covered up to 28.5 hours with remainder at 25% discount	$1,700
Post-Divorce Proceedings	Covered up to 28.5 hours with remainder at 25% discount	$1,700
Prenuptial Agreement	Covered	$680
Name Change	Covered	$255
Guardianship/Conservatorship	Uncontested: Covered Contested: Covered	$365 $765
Governmental Agency Adoptions	Uncontested: Covered Contested: Covered	$365 $765
Child Custody/Support Involving Never-Married Parents of a Child	Covered up to 28.5 Hours	$1,700
Stalking Victim Assistance	Covered	$595
Protection from Domestic Violence	Covered	$595
Juvenile Court Proceedings	Covered	$470
School Administrative Proceeding	Covered	$425
Immigration Assistance	Covered up to 10 hours with remainder at 25% discount	$595
Civil Litigation	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Civil Litigation Defense	Covered	$1,700
Incompetency Defense	Covered	$1,700
Administrative Hearing Representation	Covered	$1,275
Pet Liabilities (Civil Litigation Defense)	Covered	$1,700
Discounted Contingency Fees	When state laws do not set contingency fee: Maximum of 29% if settled before trial, 36% if trial is conducted, or 40% after an appellate brief is filed.	Not Applicable
Defective Product	When state laws do not set contingency fee: Maximum of 29% if settled before trial, 36% if trial is conducted, or 40% after an appellate brief is filed.	Not Applicable
Medical Malpractice	When state laws do not set contingency fee: Maximum of 29% if settled before trial, 36% if trial is conducted, or 40% after an appellate brief is filed.	Not Applicable
Personal Injury	When state laws do not set contingency fee: Maximum of 29% if settled before trial, 36% if trial is conducted, or 40% after an appellate brief is filed.	Not Applicable
Wrongful Death	When state laws do not set contingency fee: Maximum of 29% if settled before trial, 36% if trial is conducted, or 40% after an appellate brief is filed.	Not Applicable
Mediation	10% discount	Not Applicable
Criminal Defense	LegalEASE Plan Coverage Participating Attorney	LegalEASE Coverage Non-Participating Attorney
Traffic Ticket	Covered	$215
Serious Traffic Matters (resulting in suspension or revocation of license)	Covered	$425
Administrative Proceeding (Resulting in Suspension or Revocation of License)	Covered	$255
Misdemeanor Defense	Covered	$1,700
DUI/DWI Defense	Covered	$1,700
Restraining Order Assistance	Covered	$425

Limitations Apply.

The policy language listed herein is intended to provide a general overview of a typical LegalEASE policy. Please see your LegalEASE policy for specific coverage amounts and exclusions.

Exclusions

This Legal Services Contract excludes services for the following:

Appellate court proceedings, class actions, interventions, derivative action and amicus curiae filings.

The preparation and filing of individual, partnership or estate tax returns, appellate or administrative proceedings related to tax returns, litigation before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Claims or any other federal, state or other courts with respect to tax matters.

Matters relating to securities, trademark or patent matters; business or commercial interests, including, but not limited to, professional, partnership and/or corporate matters; matters involving the law or laws of jurisdictions other than the United States and its territories and Canada; any matters involving a government (domestic or foreign) entity or agency except as specifically described under Covered Services; farm related issues; matters involving commercial or rental property transactions, including the purchase, sale or lease of investment or income-producing property. A two-family house, whether or not used by the Member as his or her primary residence, is deemed an investment or income-producing property.

Legal services that are fully paid for or provided at no cost by any governmental agency, organization or insurance company.

Matters that the attorney deems frivolous, spurious, harassing, or unethical (collectively referred to as “frivolous”) or otherwise prohibited by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct of the state in which the attorney is licensed.

Costs associated with covered legal services, including but not limited to, all fines, court costs, penalties, sanctions, expert witness fees, bonds, bail bonds, attorney fees, exhibits, deposition costs, filing fees, transcripts, postage, telephone, photocopying, recording fees, messengers, judgments, jury fees, court reporter fees, investigative costs and all other incidental and out-of-pocket legal and litigation costs.

Any services on behalf of a Covered Family Member against the interests of the Member.

Any employment-related matter. This includes, but is not limited to, any dispute involving the Member’s employer or its affiliates, their officers or directors, the Member’s employee benefit plans, credit unions, programs or arrangements sponsored by an employer, or cases involving workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, sex harassment, age discrimination, etc.

Any dispute or proceeding against the following persons or entities, their officers, directors, employees, or agents: any person or entity involved in the sale, marketing, administration or other processes related to this Legal Services Contract; Legal Plan

Administrator or its subsidiaries; Reimbursement Administrator or its subsidiaries; Contractholder; Member’s employer; Nationwide

Mutual Insurance Company, it’s parents, subsidiaries or any affiliated or successor company, plan underwriter or reinsurer; Plan

Sponsor; or any Participating and/or Non-Participating Attorney, if the dispute or proceeding pertains to services provided under the

Legal Services Contract.

The Legal Services Contract will not provide services in connection with pre-existing matters, which includes any matter where the

Member and/or Covered Family Member is on notice as to a pending legal dispute or has previously contacted an attorney, except when prior coverage under another Legal Plan provided by the Contractholder can be demonstrated.

Where there are specific hours or dollar amounts provide in this Legal Services Contract, or where a maximum is set under the

Managed Case Rules, the Member will be responsible for all attorney fees incurred over the maximum. Additional exclusions related to each service are included in the Covered Services.

Network

About the Network of Attorneys

When going in for surgery, you don’t want a surgeon that has a poor track record or only a couple years experience. We feel that a legal need is just as important.

Help Focus Infrastructure

When it comes to finding an attorney, an employee can waste days looking for the right one, even with a legal plan. Our process has a Help Focus Infrastructure. We focus on our relationships with our Providers to help us help your employees, faster. Our Attorney Match Technology and dialogue with attorneys and members ensures the right help the first time. Matching an employee to the right help expedites solutions while saving time and stress.

Standards and Qualifications

The credentialing standards that we utilize to vet our providers is the most stringent in the country. We focus on years of experience, as well as insurance and discipline, as well as penalty of perjury submissions with extensive back ground checks.

Under the Provider Network, your employees will receive legal help from professionals with many of these service characteristics:

Experience in the Legal Matter Needed
Quality Time Spent in Consultations
Years of Legal Training and Experience
Up-to-date Legal Training Each Year
Lawyers Who are Service-Oriented
Lawyers Who Have a Solid Local Reputation in their Communities
Exceptional Backgrounds
Years of Courtroom and Trial Experience

Provider Standards of Care

The Network Provider shall strive to provide the highest quality of legal representation and service to Plan Members.

Plan Providers agree to the following:

To comply at all times with the Rules of Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure and the Rules of Professional Conduct applicable to the jurisdiction.
To return member's calls promptly, within one business day, and communicate with members such that a member and the member's family do not voice substantiated concerns over promptness or frequency of your or your firm's communication.
To not enter continuances, adjournments, or the like without the member's comfort and consent.
To not arrange for substitutions or stand-ins unless the member has been previously advised and that the member understands that you remain responsible for the case and to contact you if there is any concern or if proceedings do not go as planned.
To always respect a member, their needs and family.
To maintain a professional office, in staffing and appearance.
To fully explain yourself such that a member has an understanding for the reasons behind your recommendations and suggestions, even if a member may not hire your firm.
To not complete any additional work that will result in a fee to the member, where not covered by the member's plan, until a fee arrangement is fully understood by the member and there is a written agreement.
To help each member individually and ensure that everything you do is in the interest of the member.
To notify LegalEASE if there is or may be the possibility of a conflict of interest or violation of ethical codes.
To notify LegalEASE if there may be a misunderstanding or potential service issue where there may be a complaint without breaking any client confidences.
To direct any grievances or concerns, such as process procedure or billing, to Legal Access and not a member.
To not refer any member to another attorney without the knowledge and consent of Legal Access if you cannot assist.
To take responsibility and uphold the highest standards of customer service delivered by any and all firm staff or employees that have interaction with members.
To communicate and cooperate with LegalEASE on any concern, inquiry or issue and return any communication from Legal Access within one business day.

About

We are here to serve you...

We believe people deserve to have a sense of safety and security, a peace of mind, when it comes to being protected in legal matters that they may not be the experts in. To have access to legal professionals that can ease and solve their legal burdens. We are here to serve you.

How we do it is by providing an in-depth pool of resources to accommodate all your legal needs. Legal Access and LegalEASE have broad experiences with employees in small, medium and large companies in the public and private sectors, local, state and federal government offices, unions, employee assistance plans, work-life companies, and organizations, when it comes to solving your legal matters.

What we do is provide value by creating unparalleled access to a network of skilled attorneys to cover your legal needs with options in convenient plans. We are a diversified employee benefits company engaged in administration, network development, technology management and insurance, based in Houston, Texas. Since 1971, we have grown from five attorneys in Los Angeles providing services to a modest amount of companies into a company with the strongest attorney network across America. We provide assistance to members over half of a million times each year throughout the United States and the world.

Legal Access Companies consists of several companies and brands to best meet customer needs, including but not limited to: Legal Plans USA, Legal Access Plans, LegalEASE, and LAMG. Legal Access Plans has a wide array of products across several market segements, including worksite, employee assistance and worklife. LegalEASE is the group's primary insurance brand and focuses primarily in the worksite market. LegalEASE products are underwritten and presented by Virginia Surety Company, part of the Warranty Group.