You’re making shit up. Show me where I said working pro bono was not allowed. I’ll wait.

How much would the lawyers get if the kid didn’t hire them?

No. I said claiming you’re working “pro bono” and then taking a fee, particularly 82% of the settlement, is unethical because it’s an unreasonable fee.

There’s definitely no tax on personal injury claims, at least Federal. Some states may tax it.

No, because in pro bono work there is no fee therefore the charge for legal services cannot be “unreasonable” because there’s no charge. Here, there was obviously a fucking charge of 82% of the settlement.

Litigation is litigation. You do your written questions, get your documents, subpoena people, take depositions, get your experts, go to trial, right?

So when you represent clients on a “pro bono” case where you seek payment, whom do you seek it from? The client’s settlement/verdict/award/whatever or the defendant?

No, the fact they claimed they had $1.7M for a case that had no trial, one appeal, and two settlement conferences is WILDLY different from the either of the two cases you cited that actually had a trial, then an appeal, and further proceedings after the appeal. As I understand that Radke case, they ended up on appeal…

This case didn’t go to trial. If you read the ruling from the 7th Circuit judges, it doesn’t sound like too much happened. The kid sued, got an injunction against the school pretty quickly (it does seem like obvious discrimination), and then the appeal happened.

lol - I thought that too but I’ve been arguing with a bunch of lawyers and, I guess, it’s not quite that clear.

Do you know what pro bono means?

I thought that may have been the case but it’s not. There are tons of lawyers (or at least say they are) that say it’s NOT a contingency fee case.

Check out this story:

I know they didn’t charge their clients. They submitted their fees to the Court and the court ordered them paid by the defendant. There’s not a single thing in either of those decisions that mentions refunding fees paid by their client which I assume would be the case unless the lawyers charged their client, then…

Uh Oh, I’m anticipating a flood of people blaming Apu from The Simpsons for the raid.

I’m not sure if this kid is a minor, but according to the Grothlaw (dunno, Google popped it up) website, the minor needs a guardian (and, as I read it, the guardian may have to go to court to get court approval) and it’s all done above board.

First of all, that’s wrong. The two cases you cited resulted in a jury verdict and the Plaintiff kept 100% of that. The lawyers were paid fees separate and apart from that so you did not find what you’re now claiming you found.

Really? I actually think DK is pretty reasonable. I’ve always thought they were more focused on actually doing things because they fundraise over there and are pretty active. But I’ve always though their commenters were OK. I’ve never heard of or been to DU but if they’re worse than this site I’ll pass!

Again: If they’re working pro bono, why are they getting ANY fees? That’s not what pro bono work is.

I found the appellate decision and here’s the timeline: