Judge calls $3,000 hourly rate 'patently unreasonable' as lawyer billing soars
A California federal judge approved more than $22.6 million in legal fees from a $68 million Google privacy settlement, but rejected a proposed $3,000 hourly rate and reduced it to $1,600 for calculating the award.
1. Fee award approved
U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman approved the plaintiffs’ lawyers’ request for 33% of the settlement fund, calling the award reasonable and consistent with market rates. She refused to accept Scott + Scott managing partner David Scott’s proposed $3,000 hourly rate, lowering it to $1,600 for the fee calculation.
2. Settlement and billing rates
The settlement resolves claims that Google Assistant illegally recorded and disseminated private conversations after activation and used them for targeted advertising. Google denied wrongdoing and said it was pleased to resolve the case. David Scott billed about 64 hours and $194,100 in fees; another firm lawyer’s $1,960 hourly rate was also lowered. The article says average hourly rates at large U.S. firms grew 7% in 2025.
