ABOUT US

About Us 

FRED A. PHARIS: PERSONAL INJURY & LEMON LAW ATTORNEY


Fred A. Pharis' legal career began in 1983 when he joined the law firm of Pharis & Pharis to practice with his father, Jean, and his uncle, James. Since then, he has successfully represented dozens of consumers in litigation in federal, state, and city courts and has advised hundreds more. He also maintains an active practice in the areas of personal injury law and products liability law.

Successful suits have been brought against such major manufacturers as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, Mercedes Benz of North America, Nissan, Winnebago, American Honda, Toyota, Polaris, Caterpillar, Kenworth, Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., Champion Mobile Homes, Dryvit and others, regarding defective cars, motor homes, mobile homes, custom built houses, synthetic stucco, tractor-trailers, four-wheelers, lawnmowers and recreational boats.

Some cases are not just lemon law but also involve personal injury and thus are considered products liability cases.

Construction defect cases involving the New Home Warranty Act and commercial construction cases have been part of Fred's experience. Cases have also involved defective commercial fertilizer injuring crops produced by the famous Forest Hill, LA nursery community.

Fred graduated from LSU Law School in 1982 and was a law clerk for the Hon. Jimmy Stoker, Third Circuit Court of Appeal, for one year. While in law school, he took part in products liability and tort courses that greatly prepared him for work in the area of consumers' rights, and he worked for law firms, including his family's firm.

Many cases are referred to Fred from other attorneys and he is known state-wide as an "expert"* in the area of consumer rights. In addition, Fred helped other attorneys when he testified as an expert witness in helping establish reasonable attorney's fees to be awarded in defect cases. Fred was interviewed and quoted as a knowledgeable source in Lawyer's Weekly USA national attorney's bi-monthly newspaper in the area of mobile home litigation (May, 2000). Fred currently serves as a member of the House of Delegates for the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Fred's trial experience has been before Federal, State, and City Court judges and before juries. However, the vast majority of such cases are settled before trial and are no doubt based in large part on Fred's thorough knowledge of the law and the zealousness with which he represents his clients.

He and his wife, Laura, live in Pineville and have four children, three boys and a girl.

You are invited to read Fred Pharis' Personal Statement of Faith.  (coming soon)

WHO WE ARE

Pharis Law Offices is a law firm formerly operating as a partnership known as PHARIS & PHARIS, Lawyers*. We are:

F. JEAN PHARIS
FRED A. PHARIS

JAMES A. PHARIS, JR., (1925 - 2000) - please read a memorial and view pictures of his memorial plaque of honor at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

*Pharis & Pharis, Lawyers, is no longer a partnership and a partnership between Fred A. Pharis and F. Jean Pharis is not represented or implied herein. No representation agreement with either Fred A. Pharis or F. Jean Pharis will bind the other lawyer.
James A Pharis Jr
HOW WE CHARGE
At Pharis Law Offices, our fees are carefully explained at the outset. The following is a simplified explanation of how we charge in different situations:

Telephone Calls
Calls directly to our office from potential clients are handled through the various secretaries. Fred Pharis's secretary will get detailed information about the case and usually inform the caller that Mr. Pharis or she will return the call. There is no fee charged for the return call.

Cases 
Cases actually taken by an attorney are handled basically four ways:
  1. Straight contingency fee - cases involving regular cars, trucks, vans, etc., are most often handled on a contingency fee basis (percentage of recovery). Personal injury cases are handled this way.
  2. Combination contingency fee and one-time charge - if the case involves a mobile home, RV, or more expensive item, there is usually a one-time charge, plus a contingency fee basis.
  3. Hourly rate - hourly rates are occasionally charged when the client requests them in special situations, and usually for defense of suits.
  4. Flat rates - successions, wills, powers of attorneys, living wills, and real estate transactions are charged on a flat rate, with the fee being quoted up front.
Expenses
Expenses are not fees and are usually in addition to the fee, although a flat rate will often include expenses.

*Please note: We represent clients only after a written representation agreement is signed. Neither a phone call nor a submission of the Lemon Law Evaluation form, from this website, constitutes a representation agreement.
RESOURCES 
Lists of numbers and agencies used in articles

Phone numbers listed in articles:

Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission - (504) 568-5282

Louisiana Recreational & Used Motor Vehicle Commission, 3132 Valley Creek Drive ~ Baton Rouge, LA 70808 ~ Phone: (225) 925-3870 ~ Fax: (225) 925-3869 

Office of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896, 1-877-DMV-LINE (1-877-368-5463). 

Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Washington, D.C. - (800) 927-2891

The Louisiana Manufactured Housing Commission. Phone: (225) 342-2943 ~ Fax: (225) 342-2999 

Louisiana Attorney General's Office consumer section - (504) 342-9638

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Auto Safety Hotline - (800) 424-9393

Federal Trade Commission - (202) 326-2222

Services giving access to recalls and service bulletins:





Louisiana legal and other important information: 

Louisiana-Legal, a website dedicated to information about Louisiana Law
Louisiana Clerks of Court
Your Louisiana Legislature

TRUST OUR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

Our law office specializes in estate planning, lemon law, and personal injury. We are committed to helping our clients with every step of the way. Whether you are drafting a will, pursuing justice due to a defective vehicle, or seeking compensation for an illness or injury, our experienced team is here to help. We will review the facts of your case, gather the necessary evidence, and advocate for your interests. When it comes to personal injury cases in particular, insurance companies do not always play fair. Our team will assess what your injury is worth and diligently negotiate on your behalf. We won't give in to scare tactics or offers made in bad faith. Clients who work with personal injury attorneys tend to receive more in their settlements because they have a knowledgeable party working for them. We will also make sure that any paperwork is filed on time to ensure that your case is treated fairly and offer you peace of mind.

If you want to learn more about how an experienced personal injury attorney can help argue your case, don't hesitate to give our office a call. We will schedule a consultation to review your case and offer advice on your potential next steps. 
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