Opinion ID: 4563964
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Kevin Turner was a professional football player for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. About a decade after he retired, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Attributing the disease to the many concussions that peppered his pro football career, in 2012 he sued the NFL for damages. Podhurst Orseck represented him. Rather than pay by the billable hour, Turner chose a contingent fee. That meant Podhurst would be entitled to 40 percent of any recovery (or 45 percent if it went up on appeal), but the firm would cover all costs upfront. It also meant that the financial risk of the case rested on Podhurst’s shoulders. If Turner lost before trial, at trial, or on appeal, Podhurst would walk away with nothing. As we have recounted at length, all concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL were eventually consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. See generally In re Nat’l 2 Football League Players Concussion Injury Litig., 821 F.3d 410 (3d Cir. 2016). The cases settled for nearly $1 billion. Id. at 447. Turner’s own award was $5 million, the maximum recoverable by any class member. Id. at 424. But his victory was marred by tragedy, as he died mere weeks before the court finally approved the settlement. This dispute predated the settlement. Podhurst had played an active role in the multidistrict litigation, representing both individual clients like Turner and the class of players. As settlement drew closer, it became clear that the NFL would pay for Podhurst’s work for the class. Turner thought it only fair that this class fee, totaling around $6 million, cover his personal representation as well. Otherwise, he claimed, his counsel would get paid twice for their work for him: once by the NFL and once out of his recovery. The firm disagreed. Though it made clear that it would not seek the full 45 percent allowed by contract, Podhurst did intend to enforce the agreement to an extent. The dispute simmered. Turner enlisted new counsel, Polsinelli, to help. But negotiations stalled. After Turner passed away, his Estate fired Podhurst as counsel, ending their fouryear relationship.