by larenzo » Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:10 pm
Chemical explosion at Phillips66 plant in Pasadena ,TX plant outside Houston on 10/1989 caused 23 deaths and 300+ injuries to workers, 160+ of whom were represented by "The Big 5"(from their multi-Billion dollar settlement and $30+Billion fees on state's behalf v. Big Tobacco)in the personal injury settlements, which later were shown to filled with many problems, biggest being all the clients were lumped as a group(aggregation), not as class action case,in getting $160million, which lawyers decided on their own @ how much each client gets without looking into their injuries/damage or getting each of their approval for the settlement, which in turn benifitted lawyers by doing less work while getting their$45million fee(one law professor figures =$20,000.00 per hour). The suit for refund of 30%+ contingency fee were based on lack of loyalty to each client, inadequate legal representation,among other professional and ethical problems. After 6+years of appeals, TX Supreme C. allowed suit