A recent poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights reveals significant support among Nevada voters for a proposal to cap attorney fees in civil cases. The initiative, backed by rideshare company Uber, was released on February 4.
According to the poll, which surveyed 813 registered Nevada voters with a margin of error of ±3.44%, approximately two-thirds supported capping attorney fees at 20% in civil case victories. Only 13% opposed the measure, while 21% remained unsure. Despite this public backing, the Nevada Supreme Court blocked the proposal after the survey concluded. The findings suggest a shift in Nevada's political and economic landscape, with voters showing increasing openness to institutional changes.
The Las Vegas Defense Group reports that personal injury attorneys in Nevada typically take 40% of a client’s financial award, plus court costs. This means that from a $100,000 settlement, plaintiffs might only receive $60,000 before expenses. Such high fees are concerning as they reduce compensation for injury victims and highlight issues regarding attorney profit margins in contingency cases.
Uber has invested $5 million into Nevadans for Fair Recovery to advocate for a 20% cap on attorney fees, aiming to ensure plaintiffs retain more of their settlements. Harry Hartfield, Uber’s Senior Manager of Public Affairs, says trial lawyers profit heavily and spent over $130 million on TV ads in Nevada last year while clients received little. Supporters of the initiative, including the American Tort Reform Association, argue that it aims to curb excessive legal fees and create a fairer system.
Uber is described as a global mobility company offering rides, food delivery, and freight services with goals toward zero emissions by 2040 and an emphasis on safety and sustainability.
Noble Predictive Insights is characterized as a nonpartisan polling and data analytics firm providing strategic research and predictive insights for decision-makers. It is ranked among the most accurate and least biased pollsters by FiveThirtyEight and was named a 2023 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company in the Southwest.