Business Development

New Twist: Fee Award Too Low

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has rejected a class action award, but not because of exorbitant fees. Indeed, the court questioned whether Milberg Weiss was undercompensated when it represented shareholders of the now-defunct MarchFirst Inc. The Chicago Tribune characterized the decision as a rare victory for…

Oct 24, 2007 5:05 PM CDT

Judge Washes Hands of Defense Fee Controversy

An Atlanta judge is bowing out of the controversy over funding for lawyers representing alleged courthouse gunman Brian Nichols. Judge Hilton Fuller Jr. asked that another judge be appointed to consider whether a state body should be held in contempt for failing to pay attorney fees in the case, according…

Oct 19, 2007 3:45 PM CDT

NC Won’t Defend Nifong in Civil Suit Over Duke Rape Case

The state of North Carolina has refused a request by disgraced former prosecutor Mike Nifong that it pay his legal fees or provide a defense in a civil case over the pursuit of baseless rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse team members. In a letter sent to Nifong…

Oct 18, 2007 5:49 PM CDT

Judge Halts Trial Due to Defense Funding Woes

An Atlanta judge has halted jury selection in the trial of an alleged courthouse gunman because the state says it has no more money to pay the defendant’s lawyers. Judge Hilton Fuller granted a defense motion to stop the trial of Brian Nichols until the funding problem is resolved, the…

Oct 17, 2007 6:16 PM CDT

Big Legal Bill for Anna Nicole Smith’s Baby

Adults who had a relationship to Anna Nicole Smith are still wrangling over a number of issues related to the deceased starlet’s estate. But they are seemingly entirely agreed on one thing: a bill of nearly $200,000 submitted by the court-appointed lawyer representing the interests of Smith’s baby daughter is…

Oct 16, 2007 5:27 PM CDT

Nifong Seeks Legal Fees in Civil Suit re Rape

Mike Nifong, the disgraced former prosecutor who is now being sued for pursuing rape charges against three former Duke lacrosse team players, has asked North Carolina to help him with his legal defense. Because the civil litigation by the exonerated defendants arose out of his work as Durham County prosecutor,…

Oct 15, 2007 11:49 PM CDT

GA Judge Tells County to Pay for Alleged Gunman’s Lawyer

A Georgia judge has ordered county officials to pay legal fees to the lead lawyer defending alleged courthouse gunman Brian Nichols. The lawyer, Henderson Hill, is charging $175 an hour, nearly double the state rate of $95 an hour. Judge Hilton Fuller said Fulton County should pay Hill’s legal bills…

Oct 12, 2007 3:10 PM CDT

Big Legal Bill for Exec’s Backdating Defense

Major corporations commonly agree to indemnify officers and directors for legal costs, should they be sued or prosecuted as a result of their work. Otherwise, even CEOs often would find it difficult or impossible to pay the cost of a standard defense. However, the defense price tag can be noteworthy…

Oct 11, 2007 7:56 PM CDT

Lawyer’s RICO Suit for Fees Survives

A federal judge has refused to dismiss part of a lawyer’s RICO suit that contends lawyers for her ex-client helped hide money that should have paid his fees. Judge Gene E.K. Pratter of Philadelphia allowed Ellen Marshall to pursue a New Jersey RICO claim against the lawyers but dismissed a…

Oct 10, 2007 10:38 AM CDT

Pro Bono Team Attacks Exec’s Prosecution

A team of pro bono attorneys from four different firms has taken up the cause of a convicted Dynegy Inc. executive and filed a habeas corpus petition seeking his release from prison. By pressuring Dynegy, under threat of prosecution, to renege on its promise of paying defense costs, the federal…

Oct 8, 2007 9:16 PM CDT

TX Law Firm Dodges $1.4 M Emotional Distress Award

The Law Offices of Windle Turley saw the tables turned when an ex-client won a $1.4 million judgment for emotional distress after the firm sued him for legal fees. Now a Texas judge has set aside the verdict, Texas Lawyer reports. The law firm had sued ex-client Robert French to…

Oct 8, 2007 12:24 PM CDT

Legal Fees Could Dive in M&A Downturn

Lawyers at firms specializing in mergers and acquisitions fear premium law-firm billing will dry up along with the M&A work that included such fees. Such billing—essentially a tip for a job well done—helped law firms reap record profits, the New York Times reports in an article by David Lat, author…

Oct 3, 2007 1:11 PM CDT

Five Firms in Attorney Fee Free-for-All

After fighting together to win a settlement in a class action over mortgage lender closing costs, a group of Illinois plaintiffs lawyers squared off for a new battle—fighting with each other about how to divide the $1.6 million attorney fee. It appears that a badly drafted attorney fee letter agreement…

Sep 27, 2007 9:23 PM CDT

Judge: Gov’t Lied, Must Pay Attorney Fees

In more than 30 years of practice, New Hampshire lawyer Steve Gordon says he’s never before tried to get a judge to award attorney fees against the federal government due to bad faith. But that’s the approach that he’s taken—successfully—in a tort case over a murdered government informant whose identity…

Sep 21, 2007 6:26 PM CDT

Tax Lawyer Sued for $17 M Over Claimed Dual Role

An unsuccessful horse-breeding investment by wealthy clients has put a Portland, Ore., tax attorney in the hot seat. He and his law firm reportedly are being sued for at least $17 million by two former clients over his alleged dual role in receiving a commission for promoting the venture while…

Sep 20, 2007 12:31 AM CDT