Gujarat High Court rebukes lawyer for high fee
By IANSWednesday, December 15, 2010
GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court pulled up an advocate for seeking Rs.1 lakh as fee from the family of a person killed in a road accident, saying his action reminded the court of “ambulance chasers”.
In the order made available Wednesday, a single judge bench of Justice Akil Kureshi admonished Kanu Gohil for approaching the court seeking it to direct the family to pay him Rs.1 lakh.
Shantilal Prajapati and others had engaged Gohil to contest a motor accident case on their behalf, but later hired another lawyer when some differences with him cropped up.
Subsequently, Gohil challenged the award of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, which approved a claim of Rs.3,24,000 to the claimants and Rs.1,798 as scheduled fee to Gohil.
“The petitioner’s demand of Rs.1 lakh out of the claim amount is simply abhorrent. Such advocates remind me of the expression ‘ambulance chasers’,” the judge said, referring to the derogatory term for lawyers soliciting families of accident victims.
The court rejected the petition after the family said they were ready to pay Rs.15,000 to Gohil.
