The Republican controlled Michigan House of Representatives introduced legislation that would limit attorney fee compensation in civil litigation.  The proposed law would restrict any attorney from contracting with a client on a contingency fee basis, if his/her fees exceed $1 million.

The 2-page legislation, House Bill No. 5702 (pdf), would cap attorney fees at $1 million for all personal injury and wrongful death cases.  The proposed legislation reads: “the attorney shall not receive, retain, or share a fee that is more than $1,000,000, regardless of the percentage of the amount recovered involved.”

"At NALFA, we are opposed to this legislation.  Two private citizens should be able to contract without government interference.  The right to contract is not only one of the principles of our free market economy, but it is one of the hallmarks of the attorney-client relationship," said Terry Jesse, Executive Director of NALFA.