Law firms battle over 9/11 fees

Two law firms are in dispute over fees charged by a firm that represents workers who suffered respiratory diseases and other injuries in the rescue and debris-removal operation in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The City of New York has offered a settlement of $712.5 million, and the fees would be deducted from this figure. Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, who represent 689 plaintiffs, are challenging about $407,925 of more than $1.756 million in ‘common benefit costs’ submitted by Worby Groner Edelman, which represents more than 9,000 plaintiffs. Sullivan Papain says that Worby Groner incorrectly claimed over $220,000 in payment to outside lawyers as ‘expert costs’, thereby circumventing the 25 percent contingent-fee agreement. Sullivan Papain also claims that the firm incorrectly seeks to charge the plaintiffs for $93,000 in public-relations costs, $35,000 in lobbying expenses and for more than $13,000 paid to a physician/attorney who allegedly lost his license to practice medicine in 2000.

Law firms battle over 9/11 fees gothamist.com Wed, Aug 25, 2010