Legal Question in Personal Injury in Pennsylvania

Your father would have signed a written attorney fee agreement when the lawyer was hired. he can ask to see it if he doesn't have a copy. It's unlikely the lawyer is charging a 2/3 fee. A 2/3 fee would be unreasonable & not enforced by any court. It's more likely that the attorney fee is in the area of 1/3 - 40% & the litigation expenses & maybe unpaid medical bills or reimbursement to Medicare or health insurance is another 1/3 or so. In any case, the lawyer should be presenting your father with a written accounting that states the amount of the settlement, an itemization of the attorney fees & expenses, & the net amount payable to your father. Your father would need to sign it to approve the monetary distribution. If he doesn't sign it the money sits in the attorney's escrow account until there's a resolution. Your father should ask for the accounting in advance so he has time to review it & ask the lawyer any questions. He should not sign it until he is satisfied & accepts the amount indicated. If there is an unresolved problem your father can consult with another experienced attorney. As an alternative most county bar associations have a fee dispute committee to which the dispute may be submitted.