‘Disturbing’ $1m legal costs: Judge urges review
A judge has invited the trustee for a disabled woman to challenge “disturbing” costs of more than $1 million that were racked up by lawyers negotiating a settlement for a medical negligence case.&The woman suffered severe injuries during birth.Justice Cavanagh approved a payout of $3,750,000 “inclusive of fund management, plus costs and disbursements” for Shenai Williams, who suffered injuries during her birth at Belmont Hospital in NSW in 1999 and was “under legal incapacity”.
Justice Cavanagh noted that Ms Williams’ lawyer at GMP, Leslie Abboud, had estimated on July 22 that solicitor and client costs “should not exceed $500,000”. The judge noted that Mr Abboud’s fees equated to “$500 per hour of 1000 hours of solicitors’ time” and that the disbursements came to a “significant” $462,000 plus interest.
He conceded it was “in the end, a matter for the trustee, but it is also a matter for the court to exercise its supervisory and protective powers and ensure that it is aware of all of the deductions”.
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