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States continue to address ethics rules governing credit card use 

By: Thomas Spahn
Published: July 17, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, credit cards, retainer

In today’s world, it seems like every merchant takes credit cards. Even most mom-and-pop fast food restaurants have abandoned a “cash only” policy.

As in so many other areas, however, things are not that easy in the legal profession.

Justices take up attorney fees case 

Published: June 18, 2013

Tags: 1st Circuit, attorney fees, Employment Law, U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — Taking up a 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals case on an issue dividing the circuits, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a district court’s decision on the merits that leaves unresolved a request for contractual attorney fees is a “final decision” under federal law.

Attorney can’t enforce lien against former client 

Published: June 6, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, attorney lien

A lawyer could not enforce an attorney lien against a former client who negotiated a whistleblower settlement on his own, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in affirming judgment.

Court OKs attorney fees for untimely Vaccine Act claimants 

Published: May 20, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, time-barred, U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – A vaccine injury victim whose claim is time-barred under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act can still recover attorney fees because the claim was reasonable and made in good faith, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

Court nixes $1.5M fee award in coupon-based class settlement 

Published: May 17, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, class action fairness act, consumer protection

A $1.5 million award of attorney fees in a coupon-based settlement of a consumer class action violated the Class Action Fairness Act, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in reversing judgment.

ADA fees could be cut based on lawyer’s inexperience 

Published: May 13, 2013

Tags: ADA, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, attorney fees

Attorney fees awarded to a disability discrimination plaintiff could be reduced because of the inexperience of her lawyer at the inception of the lawsuit, the Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled in reinstating a 20 percent fee cut.

Justices consider Vaccine Act attorney fees 

By: Kimberly Atkins
Published: March 20, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, time-bar, U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court scrutinized wording of the federal vaccine compensation statute Tuesday in an effort to determine whether claimants whose petitions are dismissed as untimely can still recover attorney fees.

Court ruling on unfair debt collection claims could quell suits 

By: Kimberly Atkins
Published: March 14, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, fee shifting, prevailing party, U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing successful defendants in civil unfair debt collection claims to be awarded attorney fees and costs without a showing that the plaintiff brought the claim in bad faith will likely spur lawyers on both sides to take a harder look at cases early in the litigation process.

Justices: Fair Debt Act defendant may recover costs 

Published: February 26, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, debt collection, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, U.S. Supreme Court

A prevailing defendant in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case could be awarded costs without a finding that the lawsuit was brought in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 7-2.

Large cy pres award undercut $35.5M class settlement 

Published: February 22, 2013

Tags: attorney fees, class action, consumer protection, cy pres

A $35.5 million class settlement of consumer claims should not have been approved without fuller consideration of whether it could have been structured to provide a greater direct benefit to class members, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in reversing judgment.