Source: https://vi.scribd.com/document/320788278/Ca-79-2498-Harry-C-Dunn-Elmer-F-Heier-Willis-G-Jones-and-James-Price-Suing-on-Behalf-of-Themselves-and-as-Representatives-of-a-Class-of-Persons
Timestamp: 2019-01-21 03:40:26
Document Index: 480645483

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 18603', '§ 1', '§ 59', '§ 4', '§ 15', '§ 4']

Ca 79-2498 Harry C. Dunn, Elmer F. Heier, Willis G. Jones and James Price, Suing on Behalf of Themselves and as Representatives of a Class of Persons Formerly Employed by the H. K. Porter Company, Inc. v. H. K. Porter Company, Inc. Bertha Zecoski and Marie Lee v. H. K. Porter Company, Inc. Appeal of Warren L. Soffian, Esquire, and Richard S. Hoffmann, Esquire, 602 F.2d 1105, 3rd Cir. (1979) | Class Action | Attorney's Fee
Filed: 1979-06-29 Precedential Status: Precedential Citations: 602 F.2d 1105 Docket: 78-1439
Ca 79-2498 Harry C. Dunn, Elmer F. Heier, Willis G...
Rev Lo No Pinion
Warren L. Soffian, Master, Donsky & Soffian, Jerome E. Bogutz, Bogutz
& Mazer, P. C., Philadelphia, Pa., Richard S. Hoffmann, Newtown, Pa.,
Joel A. Forkosch, Associate Professor of Law, Camden, N. J., amicus
On this appeal, we are compelled to explore a matter of considerable sensitivity
to the bar and delicacy to the bench the authority of a district court to set aside
private contingent fee agreements entered into between a member of the bar
and various members of a class, properly certified pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P.
23(b)(3). We conclude that the court has sufficient power to take this action,
but because our examination of the record fails to disclose an adequate factual
basis for the trial court's decision to set aside the contracts, we vacate the
The genesis of this dispute lies in a collective bargaining agreement entered into
between H. K. Porter Company, Inc. ("Porter") and Local 63 of the United
Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America. The labor
negotiations included a pension plan which came into existence in 1950 and
covered employees of the company's Quaker Division. It was amended several
times, most recently in February of 1969. After Porter decided to close the
Quaker Division facility in September 1971, it gave notice of its intention to
terminate the plan, effective February 23, 1973. Those who properly qualified
continued receiving benefits until January 1976 when the company unilaterally
ceased all payments. It claimed that it had no further obligations under the
agreement because the trust fund established under it had been exhausted.
As a result, several employees contacted Richard Hoffmann, the attorney who
had previously represented Local 63 in its negotiations with the company and
who had represented several employees on an individual, private basis. Others
sought help from Warren L. Soffian, who had secured pension benefits for
approximately thirty members of Local 63. Both lawyers worked out fee
arrangements with their clients. Hoffmann requested they pay a contingent fee
of "20% Of the amount recovered by settlement, trial or otherwise." Soffian
gave his clients a choice of either a similar 20% Contingent fee or a flat
payment of $400, half payable initially and half payable upon successful
completion of the suit.1
Both attorneys filed complaints on behalf of their clients against Porter in the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania in order to secure the benefits allegedly due.
Hoffmann initiated a class action, Dunn et al. v. H. K. Porter Co. (D.C.Docket
No. 76-1000), and Soffian brought a suit on behalf of several former
employees, Zecoski et al. v. H. K. Porter Co. (D.C.Docket No. 76-2105).
Following a conference with Judge Daniel H. Huyett, 3rd, the suits were
consolidated and a single class action brought. The class was composed of all
persons employed by Porter between January 1, 1951 and February 29, 1972,
within the bargaining unit represented by Local 63 and who, during that period,
became eligible for pension benefits under the collective bargaining
On March 17, 1977 the trial judge ordered counsel for plaintiffs to prepare and
file applications for counsel fees which were to conform to the standards
announced in Lindy Bros. Builders, Inc. v. American Radiator & Standard
Sanitary Corp. (Lindy I ), 487 F.2d 161 (3d Cir. 1973), and applied in Lindy II,
540 F.2d 102 (3d Cir. 1976). The court additionally ordered counsel to file a
memorandum of law addressing its authority to set aside the fee agreements
with class members and to award reasonable attorneys' fees under Lindy I and
Lindy II.3
A series of settlement meetings between the parties followed which culminated
in a July 12, 1977 order that a conference be held to determine, Inter alia,
whether the proposed settlement was fair, reasonable, and adequate as well as
to consider the award of counsel fees based on independent findings of fact.
The court thereafter requested further affidavits concerning the settlement
proposal. However, it modified its earlier statement with respect to counsel
fees, indicating that further consideration of the matter would be deferred.
On September 19, 1977 the court again resumed consideration of the fee
question. It concluded that the inquiry was then appropriate so that members of
the sub-classes, in assessing whether to object to the proposed settlement,
would be able to base their decisions upon the net sum they ultimately would
receive. Counsel submitted detailed affidavits in which they documented their
services rendered during the litigation. Following oral argument, the district
judge issued a November 17, 1977 Memorandum and Order in which he
refused to enforce the contingent fee contracts and awarded fees in accordance
with Lindy. Dunn v. H. K. Porter Co., 78 F.R.D. 41 (E.D.Pa. 1977).4 Counsel
moved for reconsideration and after further argument the court, in a second
Memorandum and Order issued January 6, 1978, declined to alter its position.
Notice was thereupon sent to all members of the class advising them that a
hearing on the proposed settlement and counsel fee question would be held on
February 9. They were also sent a form in which they could indicate to the
court whether they desired to be included in the class, whether they approved
of the settlement proposal, and whether they agreed to pay counsel fees
pursuant to the contingent fee contracts they signed earlier. A considerable
number of those responding stated that a 20% Contingent fee of All sums paid
by the company was too high.5 Similar concerns were voiced at the February 9
hearing. The district court subsequently approved the settlement and awarded
fees in accordance with Lindy I and II. Dunn v. H. K. Porter Co., 78 F.R.D. 50
(E.D.Pa. 1978).6 The attorneys representing the class thereupon appealed to this
court. Appellees, having no interest in this appeal, have not provided us with
briefs, and neither have the claimants.
Appellants argue in the first instance that the trial court, although having the
authority to review the contingent fee contracts, can set them aside only if they
are unreasonable on their face. This assertion misconceives the scope of the
trial court's power and duty to supervise those who practice before it as well as
its obligation imposed under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(e).
Because contingency fee agreements are of special concern to the courts and
are not to be enforced on the same basis as are ordinary commercial contracts,
Spilker v. Hankin, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 206, 210, 188 F.2d 35, 39 (1951), courts
have the power to monitor such contracts either through rule-making or on an
Ad hoc basis. Canon 13 of the Canons of Professional Ethics, promulgated by
the American Bar Association, recognizes that an attorney is free to enter into
such arrangements. The Canon, however, qualifies the right with the proviso
that they are subject to the "supervision of the courts, as to (their)
reasonableness." See Fitzgerald v. Freeman, 409 F.2d 427 (7th Cir.), Cert.
denied, 396 U.S. 875, 90 S.Ct. 151, 24 L.Ed.2d 134 (1969) (court not bound by
contingent fee agreement executed in conjunction with substitution of new
counsel and could, in light of Canons 13 and 34, award fees on quantum meruit
basis). We indicated the source of the power in Schlesinger v. Teitelbaum, 475
F.2d 137, 141 (3d Cir.), Cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1111, 94 S.Ct. 840, 38 L.Ed.2d
738 (1973), where we stated that "in its supervisory power over the members of
its bar, a court has jurisdiction of certain activities of (its) members, including
the charges of contingent fees."
Power flowing from this source has been exercised more frequently to protect
those unable to bargain equally with their attorneys and who, as a result, are
especially vulnerable to overreaching. Schlesinger v. Teitelbaum, Supra, 475
F.2d at 140 (seamen); Cappel v. Adams, 434 F.2d 1278 (5th Cir. 1970)
(children). However, it has also been exercised whenever a contingent fee
agreement yields an unreasonable fee. In re Michaelson, 511 F.2d 882, 888 (9th
Cir.), Cert. denied, 421 U.S. 978, 95 S.Ct. 1979, 44 L.Ed.2d 469 (1975) (court
has inherent power to examine amount charged by attorney in order to protect
client from excessive fees); Farmington Dowell Products Co. v. Forster
Manufacturing Co., 421 F.2d 61, 87 (1st Cir. 1969) (court has power to
examine contingent fee contract in order to assure that it is not unwittingly an
accessory to excessive fee). See also, Pitchford v. Pepi, Inc., 531 F.2d 92, 110-
11 (3d Cir. 1975), Cert. denied, 426 U.S. 935, 96 S.Ct. 2649, 49 L.Ed.2d 387
When a contingent fee contract is to be satisfied from a settlement fund
approved by the trial judge pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(e), the court has an
even greater necessity to review the fee arrangement for this rule imposes upon
it a responsibility to protect the interests of the class members from abuse. In
such circumstances, the role of the attorneys is drastically altered; they then
stand in essentially an adversarial relation to their clients who face a reduced
award to the extent that counsel fees are maximized. Moreover, because of the
nature of class representation, the clients may be poorly equipped to defend
their interests against those of their attorneys. Class clients are frequently
widely dispersed. Even those who have dealt directly with the class attorneys
may have little direct knowledge of, or control over, the action. Many class
action clients have not had prior experience in a lawyer-client relationship, and
their financial stake in the action will often be too small to encourage
significant involvement between lawyer and client. Effective client opposition
to an excessive fee is therefore unlikely. Obviously in this case the defendant
had no obligation to contest the distribution of legal fees from the common
fund, Haas v. Pittsburgh National Bank, 77 F.R.D. 382 (W.D.Pa. 1977),7 nor is
the court concerned with fees taxed against the defendant pursuant to statute in
order to penalize it for violating the applicable law, Prandini v. National Tea
Co., 557 F.2d 1015, 1020 (3d Cir. 1970). As a result, the only protection
available to the class members in this case against the exposure to excessive
fees was that afforded by the scrutiny of the district court. The district judge
approved the final settlement and he was the ultimate protector of the claimants
Although the district court made a specific finding that the agreements were
obtained without any impropriety, and there is in reality very little empirical
data suggesting a wide-spread abuse of the fee system, 7A Wright & Miller,
Federal Practice and Procedure, § 18603 at 190 (1979 Supp.), such a potential
nevertheless exists. When, for example, class action litigation decisions may
impact differently on contractual fee and non-contractual fee members, an
attorney may be tempted to mold his strategy so that the former receive larger
awards than the latter, especially if there is some possibility that the court will
award fees lower than those agreed to by contract. Developments in the Law
Class Actions, 89 Harv.L.Rev. 1318, 1610 (1976); Comment, Computing
Attorney's Fees in Class Actions: Recent Judicial Guidelines, 16 B.C.Ind. &
Com.L.Rev. 630, 642 (1975). Indeed, it is the potential for abuse which has
caused the courts to vigorously examine fee allowances and thus respond to the
criticism that Rule 23 results in windfall fees for lawyers and little benefit to the
actual claimants. City of Detroit v. Grinnell Corp., 495 F.2d 448, 468-69 (2d
Cir. 1974); In re Equity Funding Corp. of America Securities Litigation, 438
F.Supp. 1303, 1325-26 (C.D.Cal.1977). "Where the only basis for a fee award
is noncontractual, the court's authority to determine the amount of the award to
the class attorney is clear. Even where there is a fee contract, courts have the
general power to override it, and set the amount of the fee." Developments in
the Law Class Actions,89 Harv.L.Rev. 1318, 1607 (1976). See also Manual for
Complex Litigation § 1.47(b)(2) (1977, West Pub.Co.) Accordingly, the district
court may properly inquire into the reasonableness of an attorney's fee which,
whether or not agreed to by contract, is to be satisfied through a settlement
Further, this inquiry is not limited to an analysis of whether the fee contracts
are reasonable on their face. Rather, the court looks to a variety of factors. In
Kiser v. Miller, 364 F.Supp. 1311, 1319 (D.D.C.1973), Aff'd in part and
remanded in part sub nom., Pete v. United Mine Workers of America Welfare
and Retirement Fund, 170 U.S.App.D.C. 437, 517 F.2d 1267 (1974), the court
set aside contingent fee agreements, noting that it was "not questioning the
good faith of counsel . . . (but raising) a question of equity whether the Court
can, in good conscience, enforce a contract made with class members, who
more likely than not, lack the sophistication, experience and education to act
understandingly and deal with their attorneys on an equal basis at arms length."
Similarly, in Magana v. Plazter Shipyard, Inc., 74 F.R.D. 61, 73-76, 79
(S.D.Tex. 1977), the court indicated that contingent fee agreements in class
litigation were not sacrosanct and that it would review the basis in fact for a
proposed fee before authorizing the enforcement of such agreements. But see
Philadelphia Electric Co. v. Anaconda American Brass Co., 47 F.R.D. 557, 559
(E.D.Pa. 1969) (claimants agreed to 25% Fee but as they were "responsible
government entities and substantial enterprises, for the most part represented by
their own counsel," court was reluctant to conclude they were unable to
determine what constituted reasonable fee agreement).
Thus, we are constrained to disagree with appellants that the district court may
determine the existence of a reasonable fee agreement by limiting its inquiry
exclusively to a facial analysis of the contract. As the foregoing discussion
suggests, the court must consider a number of critical factors, including the
manner into which the contract was entered, the status and sophistication of the
plaintiffs, whether the source of the fee payment is a settlement fund or a tax
against the defendants, the size of the proposed award and whether the fee
allowed is sufficient to encourage capable counsel to undertake such litigation
in the future. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court in the instant case
did indeed have the authority to look beyond the face of the contingent fee
agreements and could set them aside for want of a proper factual showing.8
Appellants next argue that even if the district court could look beyond the face
of the fee agreements, it reached an incorrect conclusion on the facts.
Specifically, they contend that the district court misapplied Lindy when it
concluded the agreements would yield excessive fees. Further, they assert that
it lacked any factual basis for the holding that the class members were unable
to understand the implications of the fee agreements.
The district court concluded that by enforcing the contracts and imposing a
20% Fee on the unrepresented class members, plaintiffs' attorneys would
receive "more than six times the lodestar and more than . . . three times the
reasonable fee" as would have been computed under the Lindy formula. 78
F.R.D. at 45. Appellants contend that the district court's comparison of the
contractual fee to a fee to be computed under Lindy is not a valid benchmark
for determining the reasonableness of the contingent fee. We agree.
Although the determination of reasonableness requires examination of factors
beyond the four corners of the contingent fee contract, comparison with the
Lindy fee is not one of them. If all of the other criteria to which we have
alluded, see Supra at 1110, suggest that the contract is reasonable, the proposed
contingent fee is not ineluctably rendered unreasonable because it is several
times greater than the Lindy fee. Such an approach does not adequately
recognize the crucial distinctions between fees awarded under the Lindy
standard and those payable under an express contract for services entered into
prior to the litigation. First, and most important, in the former case, the court
must engage in the highly sensitive task of designing and imposing an
enforceable contract for services rendered upon litigants who never asked for,
and never consented to, representation by the lawyers who now seek to collect
fees from them. This is a job that equity courts have traditionally, and properly,
approached with great caution. Moreover, in Lindy cases the gains which the
lawyers seek a share of will often have been "bestowed upon the strangers as a
byproduct of the performance by the lawyers of their duties to their own
clients." Dawson, Lawyers and Involuntary Clients in Public Interest Litigation,
88 Harv.L.Rev. 849, 929 (1975). Where that is the case, victorious class
counsel may already have received substantial rewards for the successful
prosecution of the litigation through fixed or contingent fee arrangements with
consenting clients. For example, in Lindy the class attorneys who sought
reimbursement from unrepresented class members received more than
$850,000 pursuant to negotiated fee arrangements with class members. Lindy
II, supra, 540 F.2d at 121. Where such fees have been paid, the award of
further benefits is unsupported by the traditional policies of the law of
restitution, since the attorney has lost nothing through his representation of the
absent parties' interest, and may well have profited thereby. Dawson, Lawyers
and Involuntary Clients: Attorneys Fees From Funds, 87 Harv.L.Rev. 1597,
1605, 1652 (1974). Finally, to the extent that the attorney was contractually
assured of such compensation prior to the undertaking of the litigation, the
concern that an adequate incentive be provided to attorneys to take on
meritorious causes is also satisfied. Id. For all of these reasons, the courts are
properly concerned to keep tight rein upon the fees awarded under a Lindy
Where, however, the lawyer and client have entered into a contractual fee
agreement prior to the litigation, the considerations stressed above argue in
favor of deference to the parties' contractual arrangement. The strong judicial
reluctance to enforce the terms of a judicially fashioned bargain upon the
parties now presses in favor of honoring the express terms of the fee
agreement. The equities are also altered. If the client has entered the contract
freely and advisedly, his claim of unfairness is reduced in force. The risk of
unfairness to the attorney, in contrast, is sharply increased. For it cannot be said
that the attorney is receiving more than he bargained for at the outset of
litigation. He may well have relied upon the fee contracts in deciding to
undertake the litigation at the outset. Unduly close review of the allocation of
risks in a contract entered into before the outcome of the litigation was known
or knowable might also discourage the prosecution of risky, but meritorious
lawsuits. We therefore believe that the courts should be loathe to intrude into a
contractual relationship between an attorney and client, and that a comparison
between the contractual fee and the Lindy fee, whose method of calculation is
designed to meet very different needs, is an inappropriate ground for
invalidation of a contingent fee arrangement. Indeed, to allow such a
comparison to be the sole basis for voiding an otherwise legitimate contract
would require invalidating contingent fee contracts as per se unreasonable
whenever damage awards reach large amounts. This, we believe, would be
inconsistent with the Canons of Ethics and relevant case law.
The district court also considered other factors which the appellants find
objectionable. Apparently, the district court concluded that because pension
funds were intertwined with the fee award, special attention was required. It
stated that, "(e)specially where the recovery is pension benefits, we cannot lose
sight of the fact that it is the class members' fund and not the attorneys'." 78
F.R.D. at 48. Moreover, it also noted that the fee award would not be taxed
against the defendants, whose obligations extended only to paying a fixed
amount. Id. at 43. In light of our earlier discussion, we cannot declare that
consideration of such factors was impermissible.9 Nor can we say that the
court's conclusion was arbitrary and capricious.10
However, in looking beyond the literal language of the fee contract, the district
court also placed substantial reliance on counsel's failure to demonstrate that
the class members "possessed sufficient sophistication to negotiate with (their
attorneys)," and that they consulted independent counsel on the matter of fees.
78 F.R.D. at 44. Thus, apparently the district court assumed that the plaintiffs
were not able to fully appreciate the implications of the fee agreement and,
unless their counsel demonstrated otherwise, the contract would not be
enforced. Id. at 41. In so doing, the court asserted there was no "material
difference between the ability of the miners in (Kiser v. Miller, supra ) and the
plaintiffs here to make an informed decision about the reasonableness of a
contingent fee." Id. at 49.
In view of the state of the record, we are unable to agree. The district court
made findings initially that the plaintiffs were hourly workers. However, this
finding alone does not place them in the same category as those in Kiser. In that
case, plaintiffs entered into contingent fee contracts After it became clear their
suit would be reasonably successful. As a result, there was a documented
sequence of events suggesting either overreaching by the attorney or the
plaintiffs' inability to grasp the implication of the contracts. In the instant case,
however, the contracts were entered into prior to the institution of suit, and
apparently with considerable preliminary discussion. Moreover, a substantial
percentage of class members were apparently allowed to choose between a
fixed fee and a contingent fee arrangement. The district court expressly found
there was no misconduct on the part of the lawyers. 78 F.R.D. at 44. Further,
there is evidence in the record indicating that at least one plaintiff involved in
the suit had union negotiating experience. (Deposition of Elmer F. Heier at 7).
Accordingly, the mere finding that plaintiffs were hourly workers does not
provide a sufficient basis for the district court's decision.
There are some indications in the record, however, that warrant further inquiry
by the district court as to the presence of an adequate basis for its decision to set
aside the contractual agreement. We note that two arguments were held to
discuss the fee issue.11 However, they were not transcribed. As a result, it is
impossible for us to know what other facts, if any, supported the district court's
decision. We conclude that we must remand this case to the district court for an
opportunity to make necessary findings to justify its conclusion.12 We note that
the class members are for all practical purposes unrepresented before the
district court on the attorneys' fee issue. In conducting its inquiry, the district
judge may therefore properly place upon the class attorneys the burden of
showing by a preponderance of the evidence that the contracts were entered
into advisedly, and without overreaching, and that the fee awarded is
reasonable under the circumstances. It should, if necessary, allow the attorneys
an opportunity to supplement the record on those issues.
Finally, appellants contend that if the contingent fee contracts are ultimately
enforced, then the 20% Fee should be applied to the unrepresented members of
the class, I. e., the sixty-nine members who did not sign any contract for legal
representation. The rule for applying Lindy guidelines to unrepresented
members of a class when the class is composed of both represented and
unrepresented members is as follows:
After determining the total reasonable value of an attorney's services in securing
recovery of a fund for the class, the district court must determine what portion
of the amount arrived at should be paid by the unrepresented claimants. Absent
extraordinary circumstances, the unrepresented claimants should pay for the
attorneys' services in proportion to their benefit from them that is, the
unrepresented claimants should pay a percentage of the reasonable value of the
attorneys' services to the class equal to their percentage of the class' recovery.
The appellants contend that the extraordinary circumstances referred to above
are present in this case. They believe that the extraordinary circumstances are
that the overwhelming majority of the members of the class (75%) entered into
a reasonable fee arrangement that should be applied to the unrepresented
members. We are not convinced that standing alone the mere concurrence by a
majority of the members of the class in a written fee arrangement constitutes
Appellants also contend that an "unreasonably unjust result would be achieved"
if the "passive members" of the class were "allowed to receive a benefit from
their inactivity." This justification was rejected by the court in Lindy II, 540
F.2d at 119-20. Furthermore, the result sought would lead to a windfall gain to
the attorneys. Any "inequity" in the responsibility for counsel fees should fall
on those who contracted to bear that responsibility. Thus, we conclude that
regardless of the disposition of the contingency fee contracts, on remand the
district court should determine the fees owed by unrepresented members of the
class under the Lindy guidelines.
In light of the foregoing, we hold that the district court, both in its supervisory
authority over those practicing before it and as part of its duties imposed by
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(e), does have the authority Sua sponte to set aside contingent
fee agreements when it concludes they would yield unreasonable fees. Further,
in determining the reasonableness of the fee, it is not limited to examining the
agreements on their face. We also conclude, however, the district court must
have a substantial factual basis before it makes its determination. The record
before us now is not sufficiently complete to permit adequate appellate review
of the district court's action. We therefore vacate the judgment of the district
court and remand the case for further proceedings not inconsistent with this
Sixteen class members entered into enforceable fixed fee agreements. No
dispute is raised on this appeal as to such contracts. The record also reveals that
220 of the 305 class members signed the contingent fee agreements and that
the remaining 69 class members were unrepresented
Subclasses were also approved, a description of which is irrelevant to this
The district court estimated that the total value of the settlement was
$1,423,430 so that if the 20% Fee were applied to all class members, counsel
would receive $284,687.60. Dunn v. H. K. Porter Co., 78 F.R.D. 41, 44
(E.D.Pa.1977). Appellants argue that the contingent fee amounts to only 16%
Of the settlement because Porter agreed to pay the attorneys $50,000 of the
plaintiffs' legal fees. Judge Huyett properly rejected this contention, noting that
"there is, 'in reality, only one fund for both the class and the attorneys' fees.' "
Id. at 44 n.3, quoting from Prandini v. National Tea Co., 557 F.2d 1015, 1020
(3d Cir. 1977)
There is nothing in the record indicating that at this time any class members,
whether represented or not, had objected to the contracts. Thus, the trial court
apparently took its action Sua sponte
Pre '69
Post '69
Agreement/Fee
Applying the Lindy methodology, the district court first approved of the hourly
rates and hours expended on the litigation to determine the lodestar. It then
examined the contingency and quality factors and determined that doubling the
lodestar was appropriate. Dunn v. H. K. Porter Co., 78 F.R.D. 41, 45-46
(E.D.Pa.1977). Judge Huyett ultimately awarded $113,084.20. Dunn v. H. K.
Porter Co., 78 F.R.D. 50, 54 (E.D.Pa.1978)
In Haas, the district judge appointed a guardian ad litem to represent the
interest of the class members insofar as attorney's fees are concerned. He
stated: "The dilemma (resulting from defendant's lack of interest in the issue)
thereby created for the Court finds the judge playing 'devil's advocate' on
behalf of the disinterested defendants, while at the same time attempting to
exercise his impartiality in making a just determination of reasonable fees. To
require the judge to occupy an adversary position during the fee proceedings is
highly inconsistent with his acknowledged duty to act as an impartial
arbitrator." 77 F.R.D. at 383
Because we hold that the district court may engage in this examination, the
question arises whether it should apply federal or state law. We conclude that it
should apply federal law for its action is part and parcel of the process a federal
court follows both in supervising members of its bar and in meeting the
obligations imposed on it by Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(e). See Hanna v. Plumer, 380
U.S. 460, 85 S.Ct. 1136, 14 L.Ed.2d 8 (1965); Edler v. Metropolitan Freight
Carriers, Inc., 543 F.2d 513, 519 (3d Cir. 1976); Wright, Law of Federal
Courts, § 59 at 275-76 (3d ed. 1976)
Indeed, when a class action is brought pursuant to the antitrust laws, a
successful plaintiff may recover treble damages and costs, including attorney's
fees. § 4 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 15 (West 1973). The purpose of this
provision is not only to compensate plaintiffs for their injuries, but also to
encourage vigorous private enforcement of those statutes as well as to deprive
those who violate them of any wrongfully obtained profits. Thus, a settlement
fund created under § 4 will often reflect substantially more than damages. See,
e. g., Pfizer, Inc. v. Government of India, 434 U.S. 308, 314-15, 98 S.Ct. 584,
54 L.Ed.2d 563 (1977). As a result, what might constitute a reasonable fee in
that type of case is not necessarily suitable here, where fees are deducted
directly from plaintiffs' pension benefits
Fee awards are a matter within the district court's discretion. Because we have
concluded the court had the authority to exercise this discretion, we review its
decision only to determine if it constituted an abuse of such power. Prandini v.
National Tea Company, supra, 557 F.2d at 1018
Our examination of the district court proceedings reveals that on October 21,
1977 argument was heard on petition for counsel fees in which both plaintiff
and defendant argued. A second hearing was held on December 12, 1977, in
which plaintiff presented argument. Both sessions were apparently not for the
purposes of presenting evidence on the issue
The problem apparently encountered by the district court in this case is that a
fee contract was entered into with 220 separate claimants, substantially
increasing the total recovery and, correspondingly escalating the attorneys' fees
without a proportionate increase in the effort and expense of litigation. A fair
and equitable contingent fee agreement generally provides for a sliding scale in
which fees based on a percentage of the total recovery decrease as the amount
of the recovery increases. See Pollard v. United States, 69 F.R.D. 646, 649
(M.D.Ala.1976); Milstein v. Werner, 58 F.R.D. 544, 551-52 (S.D.N.Y. 1972);
State of Illinois v. Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 55 F.R.D. 221, 223 (N.D.Ill.
1972). The fee contracts in the instant case had no such formula and it may
well be that an appropriate modification of the contracts could be a satisfactory
solution to the conundrum posed here
Documents Similar To Ca 79-2498 Harry C. Dunn, Elmer F. Heier, Willis G. Jones and James Price, Suing on Behalf of Themselves and as Representatives of a Class of Persons Formerly Employed by the H. K. Porter Company, Inc. v. H. K. Porter Company, Inc. Bertha Zecoski and Marie Lee v. H. K. Porter Company, Inc. Appeal of Warren L. Soffian, Esquire, and Richard S. Hoffmann, Esquire, 602 F.2d 1105, 3rd Cir. (1979)