Fee Dispute Opens Window on Discretionary Bonus Fees

This article, recounting a $300,000 verdict against an attorney for breach of contract, sheds light on discretionary bonus fees.  As written in the fee agreement, the high-powered lawyer could request an additional charge, above the normal hourly fee, for matters that proved unusually difficult, or which required special priority or special expertise.  The bonus fee would be paid only if the client agreed.  According to the client -- and according to the jury that heard the matter -- the bonus was obtained in an extraordinarily coercive way.  Now the $300,000 is coming back to the client.