The federal judge overseeing much of the massive litigation over withdrawn painkiller Vioxx yesterday capped fees for plaintiffs' attorneys at a relatively low 32 percent of the $4.85 billion settlement, saying he had to ensure fees were reasonable.
U.S. District Judge Elden Fallon wrote in an order that while the limit is below the usual 33.3 percent to 40 percent that lawyers collect when they take cases on a contingency, it won't result in "a paltry award" for the lawyers.