NALFA member John O’Connor is a fully qualified attorney fee expert with over 40 years of experience with large, complex attorney fee disputes.  Mr. O’Connor has been retained as an expert witness by fee-seeking and fee-challenging attorneys and law firms throughout the U.S.  Mr. O’Connor provides expert consultation and opinion in complex fee dispute litigation.

His expertise includes a broad range of attorney fee issues, including disputes over appropriate billing rates, litigation efficiency, tasks assignment and staffing, litigation success and prevailing party determination, and lawyering skills.  His work in this area has been widely lauded by clients, lawyers, judges and arbitrators.  Illustrative results include:

Testified as an expert witness in a class action, on behalf of class attorneys, that fees were reasonably $18.8 million against a claim by opposing expert of $2 million.  Superior Court of Alameda County, per Hon. Robert Freedman, awarded the full $640 per hour sought, plus a multiplier of 2.2.  The court complimented O’Connor on the usefulness of his Declaration:

“…the Court finds Mr. O’Connor’s declaration to be considerably more persuasive in assessing the relevant issues before this Court.  The Court finds Mr. O’Connor’s opinions related to the lodestar to be useful, insightful and well-reasoned."

--Hon. Robert B. Freedman, Alameda County Superior Court

In Johnson v. Sears Roebuck, an employment discrimination claim by a single plaintiff, O’Connor testified by Declaration as an expert witness in support of entirety of fees sought by prevailing plaintiff of $3.1 million.  Opined that the attorney was skillful above and beyond normal competence, and warranted the premium fee for the Sacramento area of $680 per hour, in locale in which $250-$300 is often considered a prevailing rate, as opined by the opposing expert.  O’Connor also opined as to the reasonableness of all hours billed versus opposing expert, who sought substantial cuts.  Court awarded all fee sought, complimenting O’Connor’s Declaration as being the sound foundation for the fee award:

“The declaration filed by Mr. O’Connor on behalf of plaintiffs provided significantly more assistance, particularly insofar as it is sourced in relevant experience and otherwise provides solid evidentiary support for the opinions set forth therein."

-- Hon. Kevin Culhane, Sacramento Superior Court

For more on John O’Connor, visit his NALFA profile page at http://www.thenalfa.org/Network-Directory/oconnor/ and firm’s website at http://www.joclaw.com/.