Lawyers Take a Hit in the House

Submitted by Anonymous on March 18, 2010 - 1:22pm

Is the trial bar on the ropes? Today's House approval of contingency caps suggests that lawyers' clout at the Legislature may be waning.

HB 437, which tightens the use and payment of private attorneys working on behalf of the state, passed 71-40. Similar bills have gone down to defeat in past sessions.

Action now moves to the Senate, where companion measure, SB 712, awaits.

The people of Florida deserve to know three basic things about contracts with private lawyers: who is getting the contract, why is the contract is required, and how much are they getting paid, said House sponsor Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando.

No attorney representing the people of Florida should ever receive compensation that would make a Wall Street executive blush.

As Sunshine State News reported earlier this month, private attorneys representing the state in Big Tobacco litigation raked in fees averaging $120,000 an hour.

The Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting Bill is a top priority of Attorney General Bill McCollum.

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