Code of Maine Rules › 94 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 649 - MAINE COMMISSION ON INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES › Chapter 301 - FEE SCHEDULE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENT OF COURT OR COMMISSION ASSIGNED COUNSEL › Section 649-301-3 - EXPENSES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1.
Routine
				Office Expenses.
Routine Office expenses will not be paid by MCILS.
				Routine office expenses include, but are not limited to, postage, 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, etc.
				Paralegal time may be billed to MCILS 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), 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 MCILS after review.
				Necessary parking fees associated with multi-day trials and hearings will 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 district and superior court. Mileage reimbursement will not be paid for
				travel to and from a Counsel's home district and superior courts. Tolls will be
				reimbursed, except that tolls will not be reimbursed for travel to and from
				Counsel's home district and superior court. All out-of-state travel or any
				overnight travel must be approved by MCILS 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. Claims for mileage shall be itemized and include the
				start and end points for the travel in question.
5.
Discovery Materials.
MCILS
				will reimburse only for one set of discovery materials. 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 MCILS. Funds for third-party
				services will be provided by MCILS only upon written request and a sufficient
				demonstration of reasonableness, relevancy, and need in accordance with MCILS
				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. It
				is unnecessary for counsel to advance these costs, and they shall not be
				included as a voucher expense without prior consent from the Executive Director
				or designee. 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.