Why Some Lawyers Are Wealthy

Sad story with the potential for a happy ending. A widow of a man who died in the September 11 attacks was represented by an attorney. Contingency fees by attorneys representing families were disfavored. She asked the attorney to represent her before the Victims Compensation Fund. As a result, the attorney sought $2,000,000 as a contingency fee. She sought representation by simmons jannace & stagg. The final outcome was that the case would not be seen before a federal court, but a state court instead.

Now I don't know about you, but a number with that many zeros seem pretty steep to me. I know that lawyers like the late Johhny Cochrane earn salaries like that. Personal injury lawyers with cases involving hugre companies like cigaretter comapnies also earn huge paychecks. To me it seems like this particular attorney was/ is an opportunist. How much money was see really going to get? Seriously,a 2 millon dollar fee seems a little ridiculous...

What's your opinion?