Can a lawyer tack on additional fees even when they have received their 33% for services rendered?

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Can a lawyer tack on additional fees even when they have received their 33% for services rendered?

On my final pay out all companies were paid including my lawyer, and I noticed additional fees added in the statement with their 33% fee, Prior to me receiving my monies. I thought all fees an attorney receives is included in the 33% take they agreed on. Nothing was done by my lawyer once the settlement was agreed to. However he charged an additional $12,000 in fees that was never disclosed. nor has he since disclosed the details of the fees mentioned.

Asked on December 14, 2013 under Personal Injury, Arkansas

Answers:

Gregory Abbott / Consumer Law Northwest

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

You have an absolute right to know how your bill was calculated and what you were charged for.  Period.  That said, there are often additional costs that a client is charged for over and above for just the attorneys time, which is normally what the 1/3 contingency covers.  You should have a written fee agreement with the attorney and it should specify in exact detail what you will be charged for and what you won't (or, what is included in the 1/3 fee).  IF your attorney is attempting to charge you for something that is not in your fee agreement, you may have a legitimate complaint.  Review your fee agreement; talk with the attorney, first to clearly understand what the charges are for and who performed the services charged for, and secondly to see if you can work out a solution that is satisfactory for both of you.  If not, you can see another attorney about where to go from there.  Many State Bar Associations maintain a fee dispute program for just such situations, so talk with your's.  Further, if it is clearly an inappropriate charge, you may have an ethics violation claim with your local Bar Association.  Normally you make the complaint and agree to testify if necessary and they take it from there and go after the attorney on their dime instead of your's.


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