Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Ohio

Re: Is this right?

I know of no attorney who would not take fees off the top before subtracting expenses (a fee which, incidentally, is quite reasonable given that many attorneys would not file a lawsuit for less than a 33% fee). The fee is usually determined by the amount of settlement or verdict, not the settlement/verdict less expenses.

Since you had a contingency fee arrangement, which must be in writing, you should have received a copy of the agreement which likely states that you were responsible for expenses. Additionally, while attorneys are permitted to advance (i.e., loan) the costs of litigation, the Rules of Professional Responsibility that govern attorneys in Ohio generally require that the client ultimately be responsible for the payment of litigation expenses.

If you have reason to question the reasonableness of the expenses incurred, then you should request an itemized list and/or receipts. Since your attorney is required to provide you with a copy of your file on request, the attorney should not have a problem providing this information. If medical examinations, treatments and/or depositions were conducted, however, $1700 may be a reasonable amount.