Current through 2024-50, December 11, 2024
Section 649-301-3 - EXPENSES1.Routine Office Expenses. Routine Office expenses will not be paid by PDS. Routine office expenses include but are not limited to: postage other than overnight and express postage, regular telephone, cell telephone, fax, office overhead, utilities, secretarial services, the first 100 pages of any one print or copy job, local phone calls, parking (except as stated below), and office supplies. Any and all requests for fees or reimbursement for paralegal services and secretarial services may be submitted to PDS only through the non-counsel cost procedures.2.Itemized Non-Routine Expenses. Itemized non-routine expenses, such as discovery from the State or other agency, long distance calls (only if billed for long distance calls by your phone carrier), overnight and express postage, collect phone calls, copy costs for print or copy jobs in excess of 100 pages, beginning with the 101st page, printing/copying/binding of legal appeal brief(s), relevant in- state mileage (as outlined below), tolls (as outlined below), and fees paid to third parties, may be paid by PDS after review. Necessary parking fees associated with multi-day trials and hearings will be reimbursed. Parking tickets, fines, and/or fees for other violations will not be reimbursed.3.Travel Reimbursement. Mileage reimbursement shall be made at the State rate applicable to confidential state employees on the date of the travel. Mileage reimbursement will be paid for travel to and from courts other than Counsel's home court. Mileage reimbursement will not be paid for travel to and from a Counsel's home court. Tolls will be reimbursed. All out-of-state travel, overnight travel, and any other expense associated with such travel including but not limited to airfare, lodging, and food, must be approved by PDS in writing prior to incurring the expense. Reimbursement will be subject to the State's per diem maximum rate policies with respect to the reimbursement of any expense must be approved by PDS in writing prior to incurring the expense. Use of the telephone, video equipment, and email in lieu of travel is encouraged as appropriate.4.Itemization of Claims. Claims for all expenses must be itemized and include documentation. All expense documentation must be attached to the voucher used to seek reimbursement for the expense claimed. Claims for mileage shall be itemized and include the start and end points for the travel in question.5.Discovery Materials. PDS will reimburse only for one set of discovery materials per assignment. If Counsel is permitted to withdraw, appropriate copies of discovery materials must be forwarded to new counsel within one week of notice of new counsel's assignment. Counsel may retain a copy of a file transferred to new counsel, or to a client. Counsel shall perform any scanning or make any copies necessary to retain a copy of the file at Counsel's expense. The client owns the file. The original file shall be tendered to new counsel, or to the client, as directed.6.Expert and Investigator Expenses. Other non-routine expenses for payment to third parties, (e.g., investigators, interpreters, medical and psychological experts, testing, depositions, etc.) shall be approved in advance by PDS. Funds for third- party services will be provided by PDS only upon written request and a sufficient demonstration of reasonableness, relevancy, and need in accordance with PDS rules and procedures governing requests for funds for experts and investigators. See Chapter 302 Procedures Regarding Funds for Experts and Investigators.7.Witness, Subpoena, and Service Fees. Witness, subpoena, and service fees will be reimbursed only pursuant to the Maine Rules of Court. Counsel should not advance these costs. These costs shall not be included as a voucher expense without prior consent from the Executive Director. Fees for service of process by persons other than the sheriff shall not exceed those allowed by 30-A M.R.S. §421. The same procedure shall be followed in civil cases.94-649 C.M.R. ch. 301, § 3