Legal Document

495 U.S. 82 110 S.Ct. 1679 109 L.Ed.2d 74 Juan Francisco VENEGAS, Petitionerv.Michael R. MITCHELL. No. 88-1725. Argued Feb. 21, 1990. Decided April 18, Syllabus In connection with petitioner Venegas' civil rights suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, he and respondent Mitchell, an attorney, entered into a contingent-fee contract providing that, inter alia, Mitchell would receive percentage of any gross recovery, which be offset by court-awarded attorney's fees, allowed to intervene in the action protect fee award. Venegas obtained judgment was awarded $75,000 attributable work done Mitchell. The fees were 1988, enables plaintiffs employ reasonably competent lawyers without cost themselves authorizing payment "reasonable fee" losing party prevailing party. After different counsel handle his appeal, filed motion for leave intervene, requesting that District Court confirm lien on $406,000 purportedly due him contract. Among other things, court held not entitled but it refused disallow or reduce contingent fee, holding reasonable windfall Appeals reversed Court's denying intervention, agreed 1988 does prevent lawyer from collecting even if exceeds statutory award Mitchell's windfall. Held: 1. Section invalidate contracts require plaintiff pay attorney more than against defendant. Neither section's language nor its legislative history supports view prevents client entering agreement. Moreover, this Court, is party, rather lawyer, who eligible has recognized party's right waive, settle, negotiate eligibility, Evans v. Jeff D., 475 717, 730, 106 1531, 1538, 89 747 implicitly accepted awards can coexist private arrangements, cf., Blanchard Bergeron, 489 87, 94-95, 939, 944-945, 103 67; Blum Stenson, 465 886, 894-895, 104 1541, 1546-1547, 79 891. Since 1983 cause also belongs to, waived by, injured contrary finding place these peculiar position having freedom waiver their causes adversaries own attorneys. fact supra, permit agreement impose ceiling amount mean such should ignored benefit so need only dealt what must plaintiff, contractual obligations attorneys, entitlement belong attorney. Also unpersuasive argument requiring authorized Congress greatly recovery defendant pay, since payable necessarily measured depriving option promising secure choice further 1988's general purpose enabling them counsel. Pp. 86-90. 2. offers no reason accept contention, rejected lower courts, exceeding are prohibited per se case unreasonable both federal state law. P. 90. 867 F.2d 527 (CA9 1989), affirmed. WHITE, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Richard M. Mosk, Los Angeles, Cal., petitioner. Charles A. Miller, respondent. Justice WHITE 1 Under (1982 ed.), may cases. We granted certiorari resolve conflict among Courts as whether invalidates defendant.1 2 * This dispute arises out brought ed.) United States Central California, alleging police officers city Long Beach, falsely arrested conspired deny fair trial through knowing presentation perjured testimony. order dismissing complaint barred statute limitations Appeals,2 retained signed represent at 40% recovery. gave "the apply collect made court," App. Brief Opposition 3a, waiving intervention interest provided applied, dollar dollar, fee. obligated provide services one stated "[i]n event there mistrial parties mutually agree upon terms conditions [Mitchell's] employment, do so." Id., 1a. subsequently consented association co-counsel understanding share equally 3 favor $2.08 million. then moved August 15, 1986, awarding $117,000 Mitchell.3 calculated multiplying hourly rate number hours expended case, doubling lodestar figure reflect performance. Pet. Cert. 28a. Negotiations between about possibility representing appeal broke down, September 14, stipulation withdrawing record. appeal.4 4 requested $406,000. had established either Federal Rule Civil Procedure 24(a)(2) permissive 24(b)(2), primarily because could discern asserted substance action. 23a. went view, however, did expressly declined decide rise implied equitable been stayed pending appeal. remarked bring establish lien, when became final. 26a. claimed contracted 27a-29a. 5 On Ninth Circuit ruled erred 527, 531 (1989), agreed, submission, award, id., 533. mere Because time affirmed, remanded act merits certiorari, 493 806, 46, 107 15 (1989). II 6 states pertinent part proceeding enforce provision sections 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986 title, . court, discretion, allow States, costs." section defendants Venegas, aim section, our cases have explained, enable they prevail. It likely many, most, will undertake express promise i.e., won. But nothing regulate attorneys lose win. Certainly face money recovered. Nor pointed anything persuades us intended limit plaintiffs' 7 true construing we generally turned away model compensated rates. See 94, 945, 67 (1989); Pennsylvania Delaware Valley Citizens' Council Clean Air, 478 546, 564, 3088, 3097, 92 439 (1986) (Delaware I ); Riverside Rivera, 477 561, 574, 2686, 2694, 91 466 (plurality opinion); 897, 1548, 891 (1984). assume purposes deciding enhance upward based contingency nonrecovery particular litigation. 483 711, 726, 3078, 3087, 97 585 (1987) opinion) 731, S.Ct., 3089 (O'CONNOR, concurring judgment). mighty leap propositions conclusion requires arrived privately client. never constrains become contractually personally bound any, though larger plaintiff. 8 Indeed, look way. makes discretionary fees. (1986). eligible, consistently maintained those maintain litigation, fortunate enough able retain fee-paying basis, represented free charge nonprofit legal aid organizations, U.S., 1546-1547. therefore accepted, least implicitly, arrangements. II, 3087 749, 3099 (BLACKMUN, dissenting). And just appropriate far concerned, eligibility. 730-731, 3089-3090. 9 Much same recovered (exclusive 1988), part. A "to individua[l]," Newton Rumery, 480 386, 395, 1187, 1193, 94 405 opinion), some circumstances individual's voluntary valid. 398, 1195 403, 1197 If waive entirely, little believe assign arrangement increase likelihood decision being freer 10 Relying heavily argues "court go attorney" (as understands Blanchard, see Petitioner 9), There two difficulties argument. First, address attorneys; whatever might Second, already 731-732, 1539-1540. 11 paid "a plaintiff's reduced counsel," 944, protected paying court. Otherwise, contends, full enforcing laws, pay. argument, too, wide mark. noted "[p]laintiffs afford hire lawyers, well impecunious litigants, take advantage" 1988. Ibid. plaintiffs, prevail, anticipated advantage system it, avoid agreements. neither indicated force, protects liability greater opponents. necessary 12 sum, controls lawyer. What pursuant order. itself interfere enforceability 13 nonetheless contention courts it. find record briefs disturb issue. occasion extent courts' authority supervise 14 For foregoing reasons, Affirmed. Third, Eighth, Circuits required Sullivan Crown Paper Board Co., 719 667, 669-670 (CA3 1983); Wilmington J.I. Case 793 909, 923 (CA8 1986); Skaggs, 1989). Tenth places permissible Cooper Singer, 1496 (1983) (in banc). Wagner, 704 1144 1983). CV 77-4047-RJK (CD Aug. 1986), pp. 5-7. affirmed judgment. 831 1514 1987).

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