Not All Lawyers Work For The Good Of Their Clients

Administrators of the September 11th Victims’ Compensation Fund set up for the benefit of those who lost loved ones on that memorable day specifically recommended that lawyers involved in the dispersion and collection of these funds were not to receive contingency fees for themselves. This recommendation would leave 100% of the fund to be distributed to beneficiaries.

Contrary to the committee’s recommendations, one attorney sought a fee of two million plus dollars for representing the widow of a man who died in the attacks. I found it difficult to believe that anyone would seek such outrageous profit from this great tragedy.

The widow involved asked the law firm of simmons jannace & stagg to look into the matter for her.

This law firm came to the conclusion that the federal courts should not be involved since the state Surrogate court was already in the process of ruling on the matter. The federal court agreed, and decided that ensuing disputes involving 911 funds should also be decided in state courts.

I really don’t care which court makes decisions concerning attorney fees. What really bothers me is that an attorney can even try to charge that much money just for making sure that his client gets their share of monies due them. Isn’t there some way to cap this kind of extortion?