A judge has cut at least $170,000 from the fees sought by a law firm running a class action on behalf of Drakes Supermarkets store managers who were allegedly underpaid — the same firm that saw its fees reduced in two similar class actions.
Keeping up her scrutiny of fee disclosures by Adero Law in employment class actions launched in her court, a judge has questioned whether the law firm breached its fiduciary duty to the lead applicant in litigation against Drakes Supermarkets.
A judge has questioned a class action firm’s claim that it and its counsel spent 180 hours and $63,000 in fees preparing pleadings in an underpayments class action against supermarket chain Drakes, saying the number of hours was not “reasonable”.
A judge has approved a $2.2 million settlement in a class action on behalf of Drakes store managers who were allegedly underpaid but has deferred her approval of fees charged by the law firm — the same firm that saw its fees cut in two similar class actions.
A law firm is seeking a funding equalisation order to have all group members contribute to the $630,000 legal bill it racked up in running an underpayments class action on behalf of Drakes store managers that has settled for $2 million.
A class action on behalf of Drakes store managers claimed to be worth up to $20 million has settled for $2.2 million, and the law firm behind the proceedings wants a cut of up to $837,000.