Meryl Szczepanski, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Newcomb Medical Center, Inc., a Non-Profit Corporation of the State of…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the Appellate Division’s reversal of the trial court’s fee award and remanded for further proceedings. It held that a plaintiff’s contingent‑fee agreement does not cap the statutory attorney‑fee award, that fee awards need not be proportionate to damages, and that contemporaneous time records are not a prerequisite. The Court reiterated the lodestar method and the factors a trial court must consider in determining a reasonable fee.