Excessive Contingency Fees

[verde]

California

3 years ago my husband and I slip and fell....I had multiple bulged disks and he had lower spin fracture.

When we signed on with our lawyer we signed on together. We slipped at the same place and same day ect..... They had the floor wet and puddling due to wet carts and my husband slipped with our grandbaby in his arms..I slipped when I went to get the baby who was on the floor at this time.

My question:
After 3 years we recieved our settlement....

They charged us 45 Percent each....total of 90 percent of the settlement.

You can imagine our shock ...the check was almost laughable.


My bills got paid and they got 90% out of us...


Now can they do this.....or is this common to charge 45 percent per indivual?

We went almost to court but we didnt because my lawyer wanted us to get spine surgery and we said NO. Even our doctor said he did recommend it..


Anyway can I take my own lawyer to court ? And do we have a chance?

thank you so very much

[525601minutes]

When you signed up with the lawyer did you get a written contract that specified how much they would get from the settlement? If YES what does the document say? If NO - did you ask for a written contract? What was your verbal agreement?

[525601minutes]

They charged us 45 Percent each....total of 90 percent of the settlement.
My bills got paid and they got 90% out of us...

BTW - your math here does not add up.
For example if your compensation was $100 and your husband's compensation was $100 - then 45% from each is $45 per person or $90 total to the lawyer and $110 to you.
If they got 90% then they would get $180 and you would get only $20. Therefore 45% each does not equal 90% total.

[aaron]

I think that's what they're complaining about.

[verde]

I will try to clarify.

We signed together. But they said VERBALLY not written because your husband does not want surgery he is messing up the case. We will settle him for 35,000 then they told me that they would settle me for 70,000 because I had more procedures done ect..

okay in the end my husband go 6,000
I got 10,000




They took 45 percent out of my husband 35,000 then they paid his medical which left him with the 6,000


They then took 45 percent out of mine 70,000 paid my medical
and left me with 10,000 dollars.


so and all the lawyer got with mo 56,000

[525601minutes]

We signed together.

Okay... the paper that you signed... does it say that the lawyer gets 45% of the settlement before deducting the medical bills OR does it say they get 45% of the settlement after the medical bills are paid?
If NOT - what exactly does your written contract say?

[verde]

It says 45 pecent BEFORE medical deductions...
I understand that part which is bad I know I knew it ..

I guess what I want to know is can they charge us indivually?
thank you

[Mr. Knowitall]

You mean can they charge you (45% x 35,000) + (45% x 70,000), instead of 45% x (35,000 + 70,000)? The amount is the same.

[lwpat]

45% is high but not out of the range. You could have shopped around and probably found someone to take it in the 30 to 40 range. As it is you have nothing to complain about, you did not have to accept the settlement.

[verde]

I found out after reading the stats that on top of 45 percent for both we had 13 thousand in costs....court papers,mediation twice, ect....lot of stuff they are in newport beach calfornia so money ...our money was not a concern to them.

You are right about one thing We should have of shopped around...More expensive lawyers dont necessary mean better settlements ...just higher charges .

We should of known after he tried to get another doc to do surgery on us after our doctor said No surgery .. "I know someone who will do it," he said,.

Sorry no thanks...

You live and learn I guess....but I do have a lot to complain about.....a hell of alot....