Trial lawyers' latest gambit: $3, 000/hour fees for attacking Microsoft

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001927426_attorneysfees13.html

Lawyers seek record pay in Microsoft case

By David Kravets
The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Lawyers who persuaded Microsoft to settle their 
class-action lawsuit accusing the company of price-fixing are asking for 
$258 million in legal fees, the largest amount ever in an antitrust case.

The bill comes as attorney fees are being examined critically by the 
American Bar Association and lawmakers across the country. It amounts to 
about $3,000 per hour for one lawyer, more than $2,000 an hour each for 
34 other attorneys and $1,000 an hour for administrative work.

At a scheduled hearing yesterday to determine the legal fees, San 
Francisco County Superior Court Judge Paul Alvarado said he would rule 
as soon as possible. The judge, without hearing arguments, said he was 
not prepared to say "what I'm going to do."...

The lead attorney in the case, Eugene Crew, told the judge in legal 
briefs that he deserves about $3,000 for each of his 6,189.6 billable 
hours, "considering the enormity of this undertaking against the most 
powerful corporation in America."

[...]
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