Publication Date

Fall 2003

Journal

Washington University Law Quarterly

Abstract

The article critically examines the impact of contingency fees on the tort system, arguing that these fees have risen significantly over the past few decades without a corresponding increase in risk, leading to exploitative practices that harm clients and drive up costs. The author challenges Herbert Kritzer's research on contingency fees, asserting that Kritzer's data underestimates the true earnings of specialized contingency-fee lawyers and fails to represent national trends accurately. The article advocates for reforms to align contingency fees more closely with the actual risk and effort involved in cases, ensuring fairness for clients and reducing systemic inefficiencies.

Volume

81

Issue

3

First Page

653

Last Page

736

Publisher

Washington University School of Law

Disciplines

Law | Legal Profession | Torts

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