Court Opinion

ID: 8411082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-02 18:34:32.255148+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:47:49.619488
License: Public Domain

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge,
specially concurring:
I concur in the judgment, and I agree generally with this description of the procedure required for the fee allocation. The procedure was not followed: appellants were given no opportunity to study and dispute the allocation, the district court has not explained the allocations, and we have no record to permit our review.
It does appear to me that class counsel performed excellent work to obtain in excess of $99 million for the class. Those attorneys who contributed to that recovery are entitled to receive fees based on the quantity and quality of effort expended for that purpose. And other lawyers for members of the class are also entitled to receive compensation for their efforts to serve that purpose. The allocation may be initiated by those attorneys who actually managed the case. Any dispute about that allocation must be resolved by the court after full and fair hearing, considering the Johnson factors where appropriate, explaining its decision for all and for our review — affording that court discretion.