Reasonable fees: The Norbourg class action
14 Mar 2011
Canada.com reports that counsel in the Norbourg class action are seeking fees equivalent to approximately 20 percent of their recovery.
While I have never shied away from criticizing excessive legal fees in class action litigation, the fees counsel seek in this matter, at least on the surface, are imminently reasonable.
Typically, the professional fees lawyers require in contingency fee cases hovers around 25 percent, and ramps up to about 35 percent when the matter is set down for trial. Usually, this excludes the lawyers’ out of pocket expenses.
Most often, contingency fee cases involve personal injury files where liability for the accident is admitted – the only real question is the amount to be collected.
Norbourg represents an entirely different kettle of fish.
