Looks Like Jeremy Alters Has Finally Made It!

And by "made it," I'm not referring to his firm's role in the recent BoA checking overdraft settlement preliminarily approved by Judge King the other day, I'm talking about getting sued for a percentage of the fees that may be recovered down the road:

As an exhibit, the suit includes a copy of a contract between Campos and Alters' former firm, Alters Boldt Brown Rash Culmo. The agreement stipulates Campos agreed to work exclusively for Alters to develop potential cases.

"Campos brokered significant relationships on behalf of … Alters ... in Latin America such as top members of the government, law firms, attorneys and other noteworthy persons who were instrumental in the origination of cases pursued by the Alters law firm as a result of its agreement with Campos," the complaint said.

Hmm, these things don't ordinarily end too well for anyone involved.

This part isn't too good either, if true:

Campos y Asociados also alleges it originated the Bank of America lawsuit pending before U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King and is entitled to a 25 percent origination fee. Alters acknowledged the class action was originated by Campos in an email Aug. 21, 2008, according to the suit.

Alters has hired Andy Hall, who has moved to dismiss the suit claiming these are foreign attorneys unauthorized to practice law in Florida, and thus the contract is illegal or unenforceable?

If so wouldn't that leave a quantum meruit or unjust enrichment-type claim?

3d DCA Watch -- Judge Schwartz Kicks Off the New Year With a Bang!

Our favorite Senior Judge had a big week to kick off 2011. 

Let's take a look:

Tahiti Beach v. Pfeffer:

Here the good judge just sits on the panel as Judge Salter, in his usual efficient and logical way, disposes of Andy Hall's appeal on behalf of swanky Tahiti Beach, which had imposed a $285k fine on a homeowner for not completing their construction or landscaping within 24 months.

The cretins!

Higginbotham v. Higginbotham:

Here Judge Schwartz reduces a spouse's $305k fee award as excessive, noting that the husband's counsel's fees were only $138k for pretty much doing the same work.

Miami-Dade County v. Eghbal:

Finally, here Judge Schwartz dissents from an affirmance of an age discrimination and retaliation claim against the County, saying there just was not enough evidence:

I do not believe the evidence is sufficient to demonstrate an indispensible element of a retaliation claim: that is, that the decision makers actually knew of the employee’s complaint so that their adverse action could have been causally related to that protected activity.....In this regard, it is undisputed that (a) Eghbal never told any of the three panel members, either specifically or impliedly, that he had made such a complaint and (b) two of the three stated, in unimpeached and uncontradicted testimony, that they were not aware of it.

Ok, but what about the third one?