05 / GENERAL LITIGATION
Civil disputes, taken seriously.
Civil disputes for individuals and small businesses. Real representation from filing through resolution. Many matters in people’s lives are civil disputes that fall outside neat categories — contracts gone wrong, neighbors who refuse to behave like neighbors, professionals who failed in their duties, transactions that did not deliver. We take general litigation seriously because the people pursuing it are taking it seriously.
~15
Years in Missouri legal practice
Honest
Assessment, not optimism
Full
Filing through resolution
WHY IT MATTERS
Not every dispute should be a lawsuit.
Honest case assessment
Some matters should not be litigated. Cost-to-recovery doesn’t make sense. The other side is genuinely right. We tell you when that’s the case and save you the engagement fee.
Realistic timelines
Civil litigation is slow. Most matters take a year or more. We set expectations at engagement so you know what you’re signing up for — not what you wish you were signing up for.
Cost transparency
Hourly billing with written estimates. Detailed time records. Updates when scope changes. No surprise invoices. You always know where you stand.
Real outcomes
Through negotiation, mediation, or trial — whichever serves your interests. We’re not interested in running up fees on matters that should settle. We’re interested in getting you to a resolution.
OUR APPROACH
We take the cases we believe in.
Not every matter belongs in court. Some disputes resolve faster through a well-drafted demand letter than through a year of litigation. Some matters genuinely should not be pursued at all — when cost exceeds recovery, when the other side has the better legal position, when emotional satisfaction is being mistaken for legal viability.
We will tell you that honestly at the initial consultation. If we believe in the matter, we take it and pursue it carefully. If we don’t, we tell you so — and often refer you to an attorney better suited for what you actually need.
WHAT WE HANDLE
Selected civil matters for individuals and small businesses.
01
Contract & Consumer Disputes
Personal contract disputes. Missouri Merchandising Practices Act claims. Auto and home purchase fraud. Construction disputes for homeowners. Professional malpractice (selected matters).
02
Real Estate & Neighbor Disputes
Boundary disputes. Easement enforcement. Nuisance claims. Quiet title actions. The kinds of disputes that don’t fit anywhere else but matter enormously to the people in them.
03
Defamation & Privacy
Both pursuing and defending defamation claims. Privacy and harassment matters — including online and digital matters drawing on our technology law experience.
04
Timeshare Disputes
Exit strategies, fraud claims, and consumer protection in timeshare matters. This is a focused area for us — we know the patterns and the operators that produce them.
05
Insurance Disputes
Bad faith claims. Coverage disputes. When an insurer is acting unreasonably and you need someone willing to push back through the process.
06
Privacy Violations
Digital privacy and data-related disputes, drawing on Derek’s published scholarship and pre-law technology background. An increasingly common matter type.
WHAT WE DO NOT HANDLE
Honest scope. Honest referrals.
We do not handle personal injury (we refer to specialists), criminal matters beyond the limited categories on our criminal page, family law (divorce, custody), bankruptcy, or immigration. We’re happy to refer matters in those areas to attorneys we trust.
HOW IT WORKS
Honest assessment first. Then strategy.
1
Initial conversation
Free consultation. You tell us what happened. We listen, ask questions, and tell you honestly what we see.
2
Case assessment
Strength of facts. Applicable law. Realistic recovery range. What it costs to pursue. We tell you all of this before engagement.
3
Engagement
Written engagement letter with clear scope, fee structure, and candid assessment. We don’t begin substantive work without this in place.
4
Resolution
Demand, negotiation, mediation, or trial — whichever path serves your interests best. We pursue the matter through to resolution.
WHY HAAKE LAW GROUP
Built around your situation, not our office hours.
We will tell you not to file
Some matters should not be litigated. We tell you that honestly. Saving you a year of stress is worth more than the engagement fee — and you’ll remember it when you need an attorney again.
Realistic expectations
Civil litigation is slow, expensive, and emotionally taxing. We tell you what to expect at engagement — not what you wish were true.
Direct attorney contact
You work with Derek directly. Not a paralegal. Not an associate. Your matter gets the attention of an attorney with ~15 years of practice.
ARAG insurance accepted
For ARAG members, certain civil matters may be fully or partially covered. We coordinate with ARAG directly so you don’t have to.
MEET DEREK HAAKE
Real legal work. Modern delivery.
I have been a licensed Missouri attorney since September 27, 2011. Before law school, I spent more than a decade in telecommunications and technology — including leading the acquisition of Corning Cable Systems’ fiber optic monitoring division, and helping create Valor Telecom, which became part of Windstream Communications.
After law school, I spent years as an Estate Settlement Officer at Bank of America, administering taxable estates including a single estate exceeding $100 million in value. That experience — actually settling estates and working in technology before that — is what I bring to every matter today.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Outcomes for Missouri clients.
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COMMON QUESTIONS
What clients ask before they hire us.
Do I have a case?+
That is exactly what an initial consultation is for. We give you our honest read — strength of facts, applicable law, realistic recovery, what it costs to pursue.
How much will this cost?+
Highly dependent on the matter, the opposing party, and the procedural path. Simple matters with cooperative opponents can resolve for a few thousand dollars. Contested matters with full discovery can cost tens of thousands. We provide written estimates at engagement.
Will we have to go to trial?+
Most civil matters resolve before trial — through settlement, mediation, or summary judgment. But we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, because cases that look settleable sometimes are not.
What if I lose?+
In Missouri, the prevailing party in most civil cases does not automatically recover attorney fees. There are exceptions — consumer protection statutes, certain contract clauses. We tell you what your fee exposure is at engagement.
Can I use ARAG legal insurance?+
For many civil matters, yes — depending on your specific plan. We coordinate with ARAG directly. Contact us with your CaseAssist number if you have one.
Do you take contingency cases?+
For some specific matter types, particularly selected timeshare disputes, we may consider contingent or hybrid arrangements. We discuss billing structure at engagement.
READY TO START?
Get an honest read on your dispute.
Tell us what happened. We will tell you honestly whether we can help — or whether someone else is better suited.