Bluetooth Settlement Approved, But More Information On Fees Requested From Plaintiffs’ Attorneys.
In our June 7 , 2009 post, we described the pending class action settlement of a case that alleged Motorola, Plantronics, and GN Netcom failed to adequately warn Bluetooth owners about potential hearing losses from use of the devices.
Earlier this month, U.S. Central California District Judge Dale S. Fischer approved a preliminary settlement in which Motorola and other defendants must pay $100,000 to four institutions related to hearing loss, defendants must post additional warnings on their websites and in their product manuals, and representative plaintiffs would be paid a $12,000 incentive award. However, plaintiffs’ attorneys—who sought to recover about $850,000 in fees and costs (out of a $1.6 million lodestar)—were ordered by District Judge Fischer to provide further information on their fee request. A further hearing will be heard either later in the summer or fall of this year. (Ted Frank of the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest filed an objection to the settlement, including the fee request.)
More information on this controversy can be found in Amanda Bronstad’s July 10, 2009 post at law.com.
What Some Orange County Water District Spend Annually in Attorney’s Fees.
In a “Watchdog” article in the July 12, 2009 The Orange County Register, Teri Sforza does reveal what some Orange County water districts paid in attorney’s fees during 2008.
Here is the tally: Moulton Niguel — $300,000; Irvine Ranch — $479,000; and Santa Margarita — $82,000.