In a little-noticed revenue-generating move widely reviled by lawyers, Massachusetts began last week to bill civil plaintiffs for anniversary fees, ranging from $90 to $120, to keep their cases alive in a system that regularly takes three or more years to settle lawsuits. Plaintiffs who can't afford the new charge could have their cases dismissed. The new fee, many lawyers said, effectively penalizes plaintiffs who, often through no fault of their own, find themselves waiting years for the final resolution of cases in which they have already reached settlements or been awarded damages.
Posted by Editor at November 12, 2003 10:32 AM