The PLF Board of Directors and the OSB Board of Governors have approved changes to PLF Policies 3.300 and 3.350, effective 2017, regarding installment payments of the PLF assessment.
 
Current PLF policy provides that the deadlines for installment payments are January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10. If an attorney fails to either pay the full assessment on January 10 or to elect installments and pay the first quarter and service fee by January 10, the attorney is charged a late payment of $50, provided she pays by January 24 (two weeks after the January 10 deadline). If the attorney is later than January 24, the late charge is $100 per month for each full or partial calendar month the attorney is in default. The attorney also loses his or her right to pay in installments. The late fee for the subsequent installment payments is also $100, and the attorney also loses the right to continue to pay in installments.
 
Effective in 2017, all late fees will be the same: $100 for every month or part of a month. If an attorney misses any quarterly deadline, she does not lose her installment privilege, provided she pays no later than one month after the due date. (The deadlines and restrictions are slightly different for lawyers who join coverage midyear.) So if the lawyer pays the second installment on April 11, she owes a $100 late fee and the second quarterly installment. She no longer forfeits her ability to pay in installments, provided she pays the $100 late fee and installment payment no later than one month after the due date. If the payment is not received by then, no installment will be accepted, and the lawyer must pay the remainder of the full assessment to avoid suspension proceedings. The timing and process for suspension is unchanged. A lawyer does not lose coverage even if she is late making a payment.
 
For questions about coverage, call Emilee Preble or Jeff Crawford at (503) 639-6911.