Choices in lodestar or contingency method for class-action fees

Federal Courts

By Jay S. Judge

Jay S. Judge, a name partner of Judge, James & Kujawa LLC in Park Ridge, is a defense attorney who specializes in trials, appeals and insurance coverage. Judge graduated with honors from The John Marshall Law School and served as editor-in-chief of the school’s law review.

Posted April 15, 2014 2:25 PM

Today’s 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals case addresses two seldom cited but very important rules: the reduction of attorney fees in a settled class action using the lodestar method, instead of the contingency-fee method, and the vitality of an appeal despite a joint motion by the settling parties to dismiss under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42(b).Americana Art China Company Inc. v. Foxfire Printing and Packaging Inc., 743 F.3d 243 (7th Cir. 2014). Americana Art China Co. filed a class action against …

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