LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) – A Japanese citizen is disputing a law firm's claim he owes it several million dollars in contingency fees.
Kazuo Okada filed a complaint on Sept. 20 in the Clark County District Court against Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP, Philip Beck, Christopher Lind, Hamilton Hill, and Brian Swanson seeking declaratory relief.
According to the complaint, Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott claims the plaintiff owes a $50 million contingency fee arising from the settlement of a case that was filed in 2012. The plaintiff alleges he received nothing per the terms of the agreement and that the defendant law firm already billed him $1.8 million in attorneys' fees.
"Mr. Okada claims that the entire retainer agreement is unconscionable, the attorney gee of $50 million is unconscionable and the arbitration clause in the retainer agreement is unconscionable," the suit states.
The plaintiff prays that the court declare that the entire retainer agreement and attorney fee provisions are void, temporary and/or permanent injunction enjoining Bartlit Beck and/or the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & and Resolution in Chicago, Illinois from moving forward with any arbitration against him. He is represented by Joel G. Selik of Selik Law Offices in Las Vegas.
Clark County District Court case number A-18-780001-P