This quarter's d3 Hot Topic is one you can't afford to miss!
Recently our firm was brought into a case where the opposing counsel had retained a computer forensics expert. After the work was complete, questions began to surface regarding the quality of the work and the value received for the cost.
During the initial telephone call, information regarding this "expert's" work process and work product started to raise giant red flags for us. We went to the location where the computer forensics "expert" had gathered evidence. We counted the computers, noted the size of the hard drives, and analyzed the scope of work.
Since that initial phone call, what we discovered has been rather alarming: exaggerated fees, unsupported conclusions, exaggerated hours per task, opinions not supported by the facts, and the list goes on!
Ultimately, this "expert" billed over $100,000 for computer forensic services that should have required about 10-20 hours of work. While their hourly rates were within the average range for the industry, they pumped up the amount of time and the number of employees required to complete the job.
To protect your firm from being fleeced by a computer forensics "expert," read this d3 Hot Topic Checklist! As a bonus, we have included a standard chart of typical or common computer forensic services, and corresponding amounts of time usually needed to complete each task. |
