[Mamzelle]

re: There are also ethical constraints on contingent fee agreements that they be reasonable. I have never heard of a contingent fee agreement that was more than 50%. Most likely, the fee here is 33%.)))

Oh, but what about expenses? You know, it costs a lot to run a copy machine!!

The conventional piece of the "take"--a practice illegal, BTW, in Europe and England where our common law originates--is a third, but the lawyer doesn't pay the expenses, the plaintiff does.

[Iwo Jima]

Ah, the insurance lady.

As you know, being in the insurance defense business as you are, the expenses are mostly for experts (which defendants and tort reform require and which the defense counsel grill for 8-10 hours just to run up their bills) and court reporters for those ridiculous depositions. Next comes the travel costs for depositions in far off places because defense counsel likes to have experts in vacation spots.

Copy fees are high. I have most of my copies made at Kinkos, etc., and the bills are HIGH! You can ask them about what it costs to run a copy machine. Most of the copies are necessary because of the useless, endless motions the defense counsel file.

How much do you pay your defense lawyers for copies? 25 cents a page? I only charge 15 cents but big copy jobs go out.

Exactly what insurance company do you work for?