Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Pennsylvania
billing time
What are the implications of billings clients in excess of the hours actually worked (supported in the Firms timekeeping system. An hourly fee arrangement is in place for this client. Could the client request support for the hours worked, and if so, would the attorney be required to return the payments all ready received.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: billing time
The rules of professional conduct prohibit Pa. lawyers from charging excessive fees. If that in fact has happened, you may report the lawyer to Disciplinary Counsel of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pa. As to the collection of the fee by the lawyer, if you are certain it is incorrect, you may refuse to pay it and tell the lawyer to sue you. You can then require him/her to support in detail the amont of their claim. If you have already paid them, as your question implies, you would need to sue them for a return of the excess amount. However, this is a more difficult case because payment was already made.
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