Nevada Court Cuts Fees for Lawyers in Medical Case

The Nevada Supreme Court is backing a judge’s decision in Las Vegas to cut in half fees going to attorneys in a $238,000 medical malpractice settlement while tripling the amount for a brain-dead girl.

The state high court on Thursday upheld a ruling by Clark County District Judge Michael Villani that sliced the nearly $130,000 in costs and fees claimed by lawyers Christopher Gellner and Dale Haley to about $63,000.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that Geller was to receive more than $109,000 in fees and costs as the attorney in the case, and Haley was to get $20,000 as guardian of the interests of the girl.

The child would have gotten less than $30,000. Medicaid would get about $79,000.

Villani decided the girl should receive more than $95,000.