Politics & Government

Could Attorney Fee Limits Benefit Racine County Lawmaker?

The state legislature is considering a bill that would limit fees to three times the plaintiff's monetary damage.

If state lawmakers approve a cap limiting attorney fees, Representative Robin Vos could benefit directly from the new law.

Vos (R-Rochester) introduced a bill he said was in response to a Burlington car dealer who paid $150,000 in lawyer fees over a $5,000 repair a customer said was unauthorized. But Vos, it turns out, would also benefit.

As a landlord with property in Whitewater, Vos is facing a potential fee of $20,000 over a case involving college students who rented a house with a year lease from him but moved out after only three months. One of those students reportedly paid a total of $2,175 for their portion of the security deposit and fall rent, and the lawyer for that student is requesting $20,000 for his fees and costs. Under this bill, those fees would be capped at $6,525.

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Vos, however, points out that the bill only effects future cases, not pending. He chided opponents of the bill for trying to use his personal situation as ammunition to support their cause.

"They know this bill is going to pass and they know the gravy train is going to end," he is quoted in a story from jsonline.com.

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But some consumer lawyers and Democrats say the new law could be grounds for Vos' lawyer to press for reconsideration. Further, Representative Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie) said that as the author of the bill, Vos should have offered full disclosure.


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