Lawyer fees are not a fixed cost, they increase with time. And the longer a case goes the less boilerplate it becomes. A settlement is more likely to include a greater portion going to the consumer than a final arbitration
Right, I get that. I just wanted to make sure that the lawyer's fees are covered in the settlement, or would a settlement include a final FU you that you now have your claim, but you're potentially out of pocket paying the lawyer fees you now owe.
Worse yet, could they string you along and wait till the last minute to settle, thus increasing your lawyer fees potentially beyond the value of the original claim?
I'm not sure if I'm understanding all of the questions/concerns you raise in your comment, but generally, I don't apportion out attorneys' fees in a settlement.
And, again, typically, you don't "owe" attorneys' fees. It's a contingency (percentage) agreement. So if you settle at the 11th hour for $10,000, you have agreed to pay the lawyer a percentage of that figure, not necessarily what they would have asked for as attorneys' fees at a trial/hearing.
