There is some “free” assistance to help you file or prepare for a hearing regarding your Tier Placement. Each of these entities can only accept a limited number of cases.

• The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc., www.advocacycenter.org has instructions available to assist you regarding filing a petition and the hearing process. It is in the form of a manual and is entitled “When They Don’t Play Fair, Level the Playing Field.”
• Three Rivers Legal Services, www.trls.org.
• Southern Legal Counsel, 352-271-8890
• Florida Legal Services, http://www.floridalegal.org/
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, 904-356-8371
• Advocacy Center, CARES team, 850-488-9071, 1-800-342-0823
• Other law firms do accept these types of cases for a fee. Check with attorneys in your area.
• A law firm, Smith & Associates, located in Tallahassee, FL, has indicated they are willing to handle appeals on a statewide basis. Geoffrey and Susan Smith’s contact information is 850-297-2006. The address is 2873 Remington Green Circle, Tallahassee, FL 32308. The web address is www.smithlawtlh.com. Mr. Smith’s email address is: geoff@smithlawtlh.com .
(Smith & Associates has indicated that for individual families, a flat fee for each appeal case is $5,000. This rate does not include additional costs, but the firm indicates it tries to minimize costs such as court reporters, expert witnesses, etc. Individuals would have to work with Smith & Associates to determine how they want their cases represented (number of expert witnesses, etc.) which can result in increased costs.)

Information contained on this website does not represent legal counsel. Certain sections of information have been reprinted from other websites and from communication with individuals involved in the developmental disabilities field. As always, you should seek legal advice prior to undertaking any legal action.