RE: Re: Fraud

Most attorneys would probably acknowledge (and ethics rules will require) a duty to disclose the fees that will be charged right up front in the engagement letter, but I have not seen any that disclose how much the online research fees will actually run. I always objected to those charges when I was with bigfirm: "We don't charge for placing books in our library, so why charge for the online equivalent?" On the other hand, the ability to measure use of research services did allow the overhead to be apportioned more equitably to the clients who needed it.

Now that I am solo, and have some clients that need online research and some that don't. I lose money on legal research costs, but I will, with prior disclosure, charge up to my cost (but never more) where the case requires extraordinary online research.

John

> -----Original Message-----
> From: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
> [mailto:CNI-COPYRIGHT[_at_]cni.org] On Behalf Of Agenbroad, James
> (Civ,ARL/CISD)
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 4:45 PM
> To: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
> Subject: [CNI-(C)] Re: Fraud
>
>
> Which brings up a (noncopyright) question. Do lawyers have
> any kind of fiduciary obligation to their clients? Or can
> they always buy from the most expensive source when spending
> money on a client's behalf?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
> [mailto:CNI-COPYRIGHT[_at_]cni.org] On Behalf Of Keith Taber
> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 7:20 PM
> To: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
> Subject: [CNI-(C)] Re: Fraud
>
>
> Clarification: I don't work for a firm anymore.
>
> I would like to see a client bring a fraud claim
> though, it would really disrupt WL's business model.
>
> Keith
>
> --- Nick Zales <zales[_at_]execpc.com> wrote:
>
> > Keith wrote:
> > >While there are many who gripe about WL fees, you
> > will
> > >not find many attorneys going out of their way to
> > >avoid these fees. The reason is that most firms
> > >negotiate annual rates or reduced fees with WL and
> > >Lexis and then charge their clients the published
> > >rates. Therefore, the more outrageous the published
> > >rates the better it is for large firms.
> >
> > This is called fraud. It's why large law firms are
> > bad for lawyers and the
> > public.
> > If you say it's just doing business, I say your
> > license to practice should
> > be revoked.
> >
> > Nick Zales
> > Zales Law Office
> > Milwaukee, WI
> >
> >
> >
> >
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Received on Wed Feb 23 2005 - 23:00:00 GMT