September 8, 2003
New York Top Court Asked to Review Tobacco Fee Awards
New York Lawyer reports that “An independent counsel appointed by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Ramos has asked the Court of Appeals to review an appellate ruling barring the judge from examining a $625 million fee award to the five firms that worked on the state’s lawsuit against the tobacco industry.” (Daniel Wise, New York Law Journal, Sept. 8, 2003)
As we posted here on August 1, 2003, the 1st Division Appellate Court wrote a highly negative opinion on July 31st, in which it concluded that Judge Ramos had no jurisdiction to raise the issue of the reasonableness of the fees, and no power to name an independent counsel. All of the parties, including the NY Attorney General, opposed reopening the fee issue. [Nostalgic Note: On our first official day blogging, we asked “Is a Legal Fee Ever Too Big?” and praised Judge Ramos’ attempt to review the tobacco fee awards.] See Overlawyered.com for more details about the brave jurist.
ethicalEsq?ethicalEsq?ethicalEsq?
Thanks to Ernie the Attorney for putting ethicalEsq? on his short list of Top Law Blogs. That’s a lot to live up to (especially if I have to agree with Ernest from now on).
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