http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/09/11/church_deal_a_boon_for_lawyers/
The $85 million settlement in the Boston clergy sex abuse scandal will set a record not only as the most expensive abuse settlement in the history of the Catholic Church, but also as the largest payday for lawyers who sued on behalf of abuse victims: an estimated $30 million in legal fees, lawyers told the Boston Globe.
That figure has angered some victims and advocates, who say those abused by clergy will get far less money as a result, but others say the customary 33 percent cut, plus expenses, is fair, stressing that they could not have sued the Archdiocese of Boston had they been forced to pay legal fees up front.
The tentative agreement was unanimously ratified Wednesday during a meeting with the 57 attorneys representing 552 alleged victims of abuse, who must persuade 80 percent of their clients to sign on for it to become effective.
“They are raking in millions of dollars and just using victims, propping them up in front of press conferences so other clients will come in and hire them,” said John Sacco, a victim of defrocked priest John Geoghan, who was killed in prison.
Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/09/11/church_deal_a_boon_for_lawyers/