MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Actress sues Amazon for more than a million dollars

Pinecone · 10-29-2011, 07:30 AM

I would not say it is uncommon, but it does happen. Unknowing lcient with sleazy lawyer.

Typically the lawyer gets some set percentage of the settlement or award, around 1/3. And that covers all their costs and fees. But there have been cases where the lawyer made the contract read that they got X% PLUS all their costs and fees. So the lawyer billed for his time and all the other costs, and that on top of their X5, leaving the plaintiff with a very small recovery.

One big case was back int eh 80s where several fire fighters sued over smoke inhalation. IIRC there was a $10 million award, the plaintiffs got to split about $125,000. The lawyers got the rest.

10-29-2011, 07:30 AM	#64
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	I would not say it is uncommon, but it does happen. Unknowing lcient with sleazy lawyer. Typically the lawyer gets some set percentage of the settlement or award, around 1/3. And that covers all their costs and fees. But there have been cases where the lawyer made the contract read that they got X% PLUS all their costs and fees. So the lawyer billed for his time and all the other costs, and that on top of their X5, leaving the plaintiff with a very small recovery. One big case was back int eh 80s where several fire fighters sued over smoke inhalation. IIRC there was a $10 million award, the plaintiffs got to split about $125,000. The lawyers got the rest.