Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Oregon
Unreasonable attorney's fees?
My ex and I just received the verdict on our child custody case. My ex won. (I am filing an appeal).
My question is this....if her attorney only charges her $120 per hour, why is it that the judge allowed her attorney to bill ME $1100 per hour? The attorney claims she put 359 hours into the case, so my ex was awarded $394,900 in attorney's fees. I only make about $22,000 per year.
How can this be? She testified herself that she has only paid this attorney $24,000 tops. Isn't this award ''excessive''?!
In case you are tempted to ask if I am just kidding, I assure you that I am not.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Unreasonable attorney's fees?
If the facts are as you describe, yes the $1100 per hour fee is wildly excessive, and probably so are the 359 hours on a single child custody case.
You should challenge the attorney fee as part of your appeal. Since you say you are filing an appeal, you should be represented by an attorney. Remind the attorney to challenge the fee award.
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