Apr 06, 2006 · Another problem can arise when a defendant files a counterclaim against one of the plaintiffs. In such situations, the plaintiffs generally can consent to continued representation. In Hamilton v. Merrill Lynch, 645 F. Supp. 60 (E.D. Mich. 1986), the defendants moved to disqualify an attorney representing multiple plaintiffs in a securities action.
Jun 06, 2012 · If there are say 8 plaintiffs and each of their damages equals to about $4,000 each. Would this total of $32,000 combined of all plaintiffs qualify their total claims to be file in a lawsuit under unlimited jurisdiction?
Dec 04, 2010 · There can be many situations that aren't class actions with multiple plaintiffs, such as if they're all party to a contract that's breached, or all victims of someone's negligence. You should consult a lawyer who handles the type of case you're referring to, and since you haven't provided any facts, no one can Avvo can guess what type of case ...
Mar 14, 2017 · So, in sum, Supreme Forest provides authority for the proposition that two plaintiffs, represented by one lawyer, may hold privileged joint communications with their lawyer even though they maintain separate lawsuits. Previous Post: Vice President & General Counsel Avoids Deposition under Apex Doctrine
Law firm may represent multiple plaintiffs against same defendant if different plaintiffs' interests are not adverse to or compete with one another. artificially and agreed upon high rates.
Rule 1.7(b) encompasses the multiple representation context: situations in which a lawyer's representation "may be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client to a third person, or by a personal interest of the lawyer." In such situations a lawyer can only represent the client ...
II. Factors to be considered as guides in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following: (1) The time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly.
Paragraph (a) prohibits representation of opposing parties in litigation. Simultaneous representation of parties whose interests in litigation are not actually directly adverse but where the potential for conflict exists, such as co-plaintiffs or co-defendants, is governed by paragraph (b).
Short answer is Yes. However, it is almost always inadvisable to do so. Two people can waive any and all conflicts and, thus, retain one lawyer to represent them. They also have the right to negotiate any fee they want.Nov 21, 2017
1. The California Rules of Professional Conduct strictly prohibit attorneys from undertaking the simultaneous representation of multiple clients in the same matter in any circumstance.
Digest: It is professionally proper for an attorney to charge a client interest on either overdue bills or advanced expenses. The attorney should keep in mind suggested guidelines for maintaining a proper relationship with the client as well as possible ethical problems which may arise when charging interest.Mar 11, 1988
Generally, when a lawyer takes a case on a contingency fee, a client has no obligation to pay his/her lawyer a fee unless the case is successfully resolved.Apr 13, 2022
Reasonable legal costs means attorneys' fees, costs, charges, and all other litigation expenses in connection with the defense of a "claim" or negotiation of cleanup standards and representation before environmental agencies in connection with "discovery", limited to rates we actually pay to counsel we retain in the ...
[1] Rule 1.7 is intended to provide clear notice of circumstances that may constitute a conflict of interest. Rule 1.7(a) sets out the limited circumstances in which representation of conflicting interests is absolutely prohibited even with the informed consent of all involved clients.
[11] When lawyers representing different clients in the same matter or in substantially related matters are closely related by blood or marriage, there may be a significant risk that client confidences will be revealed and that the lawyer's family relationship will interfere with both loyalty and independent ...
(a) A lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter shall not thereafter represent another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client unless the former client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing.Apr 17, 2019
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You have 8 plaintiffs on the same issue? If so, you may wish to contact a class action atty?
It might. You'll need to provide more information. The actual answer depends upon the nature of the claims and what remedy (remedies) is/are being sought against the same defendant.#N#This is a joinder question. Joinder is the uniting of two or more claims or parties in a...
The number of plaintiffs does not determin the subject matter of the lawsuit. These issues are not connected.#N#REQUEST: Please give this answer a "thumbs up" (below) if you find it valuable...
Are you referring to a "class action" lawsuit, where all the plaintiffs have been damaged in the same way by the defendant? A class has to be certified as such by the court.#N#There can be many situations that aren't class actions with multiple plaintiffs, such...
The attorney–client privilege, of course, applies to a client’s confidential communications to her lawyer. A client waives any privilege if she communicates with her lawyer in the presence of a third-party. Here, Kennedy and Welch are arguably third-parties because they filed separate lawsuits—does that vitiate any privilege protection?
Michael Kennedy and Ferrell Welch retained attorney Michael Reilly to sue their employer, Supreme Forest, for wrongful discharge. Mr. Reilly filed separate lawsuits on Kennedy and Welch’s behalf. During these lawsuits, Kennedy and Welch jointly participated in meetings with Reilly.
The joint–client doctrine is a non-waiver doctrine that permits parties represented jointly by the same lawyer on a matter of common interest to communicate without fear of privilege waiver.
The common–interest doctrine, also a non-waiver doctrine, permits parties with a common interest, but represented by separate lawyers, ...
With the right preparation, a structured legal fee agreement can be an excellent tax planning tool for plaintiffs’ lawyers. Even in the case of large law firms it is usually possible to set up a structure so that it works, although it may require extra time and care. Accountants play a key role in the process. There is no right answer for everyone, but it is important to consider the legal structure, the lawyer-client relationship, and matters such as control, firm management, and moneys that might pass to an estate.
The fee agreement can provide that the attorney will specify which payment type—and the amount—in writing before the case goes to judgment or is settled. There is no disadvantage in doing this from the beginning in every legal fee agreement.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys are generally not tax experts and usually need their accountants’ help to set up fee structures. Despite a more than ten-year track record of structuring legal fees, many accountants remain confused about what they can do, what they cannot do, and what is most important in securing structures’ financial and tax benefits. Here are the top ten things accountants should know about structuring legal fees for their lawyer-clients.
7. Contingent fees only: Structuring legal fees generally applies only in cases that are taken on a contingent basis and then settled out of court. However, it may be possible to interpose a fee structure in some cases going to judgment or in cases in which a court awards attorneys’ fees. 8.