Opinion ID: 531368
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiff's Fee Arrangement

Text: 55 According to a letter included in the defendant's brief, Jardien had agreed to pay his attorney no more than $5,000.00, regardless of the outcome. Winston finds error in the district court's failure to refer to this agreement. 56 A private fee arrangement between plaintiff and counsel does not serve as a ceiling on the amount of attorneys' fees that the prevailing plaintiff may recover. Blanchard v. Bergeron, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 939, 944-45, 103 L.Ed.2d 67 (1989). When the plaintiff's fee arrangement is less than a reasonable fee, the defendant is required to pay the higher amount. Id., 109 S.Ct. at 944. The fee arrangement between Jardien and his counsel can still be relevant as evidence of a reasonable fee. Id.; Lenard v. Argento, 808 F.2d 1242, 1247 (7th Cir.1987). On remand, the trial court should consider the relevancy, if any, of Jardien's fee arrangement with his attorney.