Who is this guy and is he suing everybody for everything? Look, you have the right to sue in civil court if you were done wrong. But how much is James Sokolove going to keep if you are awarded damages? 10% sounds ok. It will be much more than that I'm sure. Does anybody know? Do such lawyers really care if you receive damages or are they only out to make money?
Really? Why doesn't he charge less?
2007-09-25 09:19:48 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Sokolove is a class-action lawyer -- he files class action lawsuits on behalf of thousands or millions of people who have all been harmed in the same way.
If a class has already been certified, then you may claim the benefits of that class action whether you want to participate or not -- but you can also choose to opt-out of the class and pursue your own individual claims if you want.
Generally, class action lawyers get between 20% and 30% of the total recovery -- that being standard in the industry -- but they also bear all the costs, which can run into the millions of dollars for a large lawsuit, and they bear those costs whether the win or lose.
Some lawyers care about the clients more than the money -- some are in it for the business and the profit -- as with any profession, the motivations vary.
2007-09-25 09:54:38 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He probably charges on a sliding scale. Less of a percentage if it settles before trial, more if he has to go to court.
It is all negotiable between the client and the lawyer, but he will not take only 10%. Why not charge less? Would you go to your boss and volunteer to take less to do your job? Everyone that works is trying to earn as much money as they can.
If the lawyer did not care about injured persons, he could become a tax lawyer instead. They make a good living too.
If you have mesothelioma and don't want to contact the offices of James Sokolove, or another lawyer, you can file the case yourself. Good luck with that
2007-09-25 09:28:09 · answer #2 · answered by raichasays 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why doesn't he charge less? Because lawyers charge a lot of money, and taking on class action and malpractice suits are risky - so you want a big chunk of the pie. Lawyers start charging at $200 an hour - and those are green associates and family lawyers, not the guys raking in the big bucks. My boyfriend's boss, who's a junior partner at a small firm in Toronto, charges $450 per billable hour, plus costs. My friend's father, who's a senior partner at one of the biggest firms in the country makes somewhere around 1.3 million dollars a year.
Running a law firm isn't cheap, either. Searches through Westlaw and such cost money; the facilities you rent cost money; court filing fees cost money; so does that suit your lawyer wears, their desk, the paralegals and secretaries, etcetera, etcetera.
And yes, lawyers care if you receive damages. Why? They want a reputation for being a good lawyer, and they don't want to get disbarred or sued for doing a crappy job. Strangely enough, we get fairly attached to our clients, too, especially the ones that were treated unfairly.
2007-09-25 09:34:43 · answer #3 · answered by drusillaslittleboot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*LOL* Good one. Most lawyers charge at least 40% I think.
2007-09-25 09:27:25 · answer #4 · answered by grumpyoldman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋