SI Ferry Victim Wants Lawyer to Have More Money

A paralyzed man who broke his neck in that 2003 Staten Island Ferry accident wants his lawyer to have a bigger share of his $18.3 million settlement. That's right: He wants to give his lawyer more money. James McMillan, who did not, apparently, suffer head trauma during the accident, appeared in court again yesterday to ask a magistrate to reverse another judge's ruling which reduced his lawyer's fee by almost $2.5 million. McMillan thinks his poor lawyer is entitled to a third of the money (which would be about $6.1 million), telling the Daily News, "I want him to have it. He worked for it. There's a hundred lawyers on TV saying, 'I'm the best,' but this man has walked with me through many things people wouldn't understand. He said, 'James I'm your lawyer' and I needed that comfort." It's unclear what kind of nefarious occult spell attorney Evan Torgan has cast over his client, but the judge who previously reduced his percentage was concerned that McMillan didn't understand the retainer he signed in his hospital bed just days after the crash.

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By John Del Signore in News on June 4, 2009 1:07 PM

Comments [rss]

SomethingBetter

Really, what is he going to do with all that money? ;-)

bsalamon

Having met Evan Torgan, and knowing standard procedure for personal injury cases, the monetary award being pursued to the fullest degree is being done to prevent this case from becoming a precedent.

Granted this case has a rather large award, but cases with a significantly smaller award, may result in lawyers not making enough money to justify their efforts.

And yes, I know some lawyers make lots of money, but there are lots more that barely scrape by.

JenChungsBaby

I assume there are tax reasons why he can't just cut him a check for whatever amount he wants???

Outter Burrougher

kudos to you, James McMillan

valeriob

James I'm your lawyer.

imadick

dang. you're good. here's an extra million dollars.

imadick

dang. you're good. here's an extra million dollars.

gothamguy

"It's unclear what kind of nefarious occult spell attorney Evan Torgan has cast over his client"

What a BS statement. Maybe Mr. McMillan is actually an honest person who believes he should live up to the agreement he made with his attorney.