Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday signed 21 bills into law, including a measure that will limit the fees attorneys can charge for their services.
Walker signed Senate Bill 12, a product of the recent special legislative session on job creation that was sponsored by State Senator Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, and State Representative Robin Vos, R-Burlington.
The measure specifically lists the factors a court must consider when determining whether attorney fees are reasonable. Courts must take into account the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the case, and whether the case prohibited the attorney from taking on other work.
Under the bill, when compensatory damages are awarded, reasonable attorney fees may not exceed three times the amount of the damages awarded.
“Protecting job creators from excessive attorney fees will improve our business climate, and ultimately help create jobs in the private sector,” Walker said.
