The Missouri Supreme Court has refused to entertain a legal challenge to the $111-million fee bonanza awarded to private attorneys who represented the state in its relatively late tagalong lawsuit against the tobacco industry. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch had decried the fee award as a “political gravy train” which “grossly overpays the lawyers involved”, who had plenty of friends in high places in Missouri politics (see our coverage of Sept. 21, 2000 and Jun. 5, 2001). (“Court turns down appeal of tobacco attorney fees”, AP/Jefferson City News Tribune, Oct. 2) (via Lori Patel, Law.com). Ethical Esq.? (Oct. 3) comments on the case, citing a pertinent passage from the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as our previous coverage.
Update: Missouri tobacco fees
The Missouri Supreme Court has refused to entertain a legal challenge to the $111-million fee bonanza awarded to private attorneys who represented the state in its relatively late tagalong lawsuit against the tobacco industry. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch had decried the fee award as a “political gravy train” which “grossly overpays the lawyers involved”, who […]
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Missouri Lawyers Came Late to the Party, Still Get an $111 Million Slice of the Tobacco Fee Pie
A five-year battle to reduce fees received by lawyers representing Missouri against Big Tobacco ended this week.