https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/judge-calls-3-000-hourly-rate-patently-unreasonable-as-lawyer-billing-soarsContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/judge-calls-3-000-hourly-rate-patently-unreasonable-as-lawyer-billing-soarshttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/judge-calls-3-000-hourly-rate-patently-unreasonable-as-lawyer-billing-soars#u138020Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:35:50 +0000US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman rejected a $3,000 hourly billing rate as "patently unreasonable" in a privacy claims settlement against Google. While the judge approved over $22.6 million in legal fees from a $68 million settlement, she capped the specific attorney's rate at $1,600. This ruling comes amid rising legal costs where some Biglaw partners charge $4,000 per hour. The decision highlights a judicial limit on soaring billing rates despite general market trends in corporate and class action law.Why it mattersThe ruling stems from litigation involving Google's v