Typically the attorneys take these cases on a 33-40% contingency, plus costs. It’s not like a class action suit.
Do you have any idea what it costs to take a case like this to trial? The lawyers usually have to advance the costs of going to trial, and that’s a minimum of $50K in a case like this, which they may or may not get back, depending on the verdict. They have to pay for expert witnesses that run tens of thousands of dollars, for depositions, court reporters, etc. The firm probably had a dozen people working on the case that it had to pay every week and, again, without winning, would never have recovered those costs. It’s high risk for the lawyers/firms and they are entitled to their %.
I read the Walgreen’s apology that rings hallow, or the case would never have gotten to trial. They probably could have settled long ago for far less than the jury granted.
A reasonable amount for pain and suffering, plus two or three times the amount of lifetime earnings the family has lost. I can see that. But this is just a lottery win for the family and the law firm. What gets me is the number of lawsuits you hear about where the family members likely did not give a crap about the deceased....but they sure begin having “pain & suffering” when they figure how deep the companies pockets are.