Opinion ID: 1609773
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: on motion to approve contract for attorney's fees

Text: ROBERDS, P.J. This case was handed down on its merits November 19, 1956. 229 Miss. 327, 90 So.2d 645. (Hn 10) Mandle and his attorney have filed a motion asking the Court to approve a contract between them under which the attorney is to receive fifty percent of the amount of compensation recovered by Mandle. In Prince, et al. v. Nicholson, No. 40,307, decided January 7, 1957, not yet reported, this Court said: It further appears from the record that the circuit court allowed to the claimant's attorney as an attorney's fee for his services forty percent of the benefits recovered, in accordance with a contract entered into between the claimant and said attorney. We have heretofore definitely held, however, that the fee for all servicse of a claimant's attorney in workmen's compensation cases should not exceed 33-1/3% of the sum recovered. Sunnyland Contracting Co., Inc. v. Davis, 221 Miss. 744, 75 So.  2d 638; Mississippi Federated Cooperatives v. Jefferson, 79 So.2d 723; Pigford Bros. Construction Co. v. Evans, 83 So.2d. 622. The motion herein discloses that counsel has performed an unusual amount of legal work. However, we think it inadvisable to undertake to estimate and evaluate the services which attorneys perform so as to increase their fees in excess of the maximum we have heretofore set. Therefore, the contract in this case will be approved so as to allow counsel a fee of 33-1/3% of the total amount which may be recovered herein by Mandle. Motion for attorney's fees approved in part. Hall, Lee, Kyle and Holmes, JJ., concur.