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Example Fee Calculations

In order to help you understand how my fee will be calculated, I am providing you with the following examples. The numbers in these examples are selected solely for illustration purposes, they are not intended to indicate what you are likely to recover in your case.

Example 1

After a trial, the jury awards you a $30 in damages. In the judgment, the court notes that the jury found that a reasonable fee for my time was $70 and awards a total of $100. We spent $5 for various expenses relating to the case. The defendant pays us $100 on the day the judgment is signed, so your net recovery is $95. The base amount of my fee would be 40% of the net recovery, or $38. Because that is less than the amount found by the jury to be reasonable, the base fee would be increased to the amount found by the jury. You would keep $30 and pay me $70. If I advanced any of the $5 in expenses, you would reimburse me for that out of your $30.

Example 2

Same as example 1, except the jury awards you $40 in damages and finds that a reasonable fee for my time was $20. The total amount of the judgment is $60. Your net recovery would be $55 after expenses. My base fee would be 40% of that or $22. You would keep $38 and pay me the base fee of $22. As in the first example, if I advanced any of the $5 in expenses, you would reimburse me for that out off your $38.

Example 3

We lose a jury trial and the court awards you $0. We spent $5 for various expenses relating to the case. My fee would be $0. If I advanced any of the $5 in expenses, you would reimburse me out of your pocket.

Example 4

We settle out of court for $100. The settlement occurs about 2 months before trial. The base fee would be 33% of $100, or $33. I worked 10 hours at $2.50 per hour on the case. The base fee of $33 would not be increased. You would keep $67 and pay me $33.

Example 5

We have a case that we think is worth $100, but you decide to settle out of court for $10. The settlement occurs on the first day of trial. The base fee would be 40% of $10 or $4. I worked 10 hours at $2.50 per hour on the case, so the base fee would be increased to $25, the amount of my hourly fee. The entire amount of the settlement would be retained by me and you would pay me $15 out of your pocket.