Duncan Faircloth: “I am offering this important amendment because we cannot allow this tobacco bill to turn into ``Wheel of Fortune'' for…”

“I am offering this important amendment because we cannot allow this tobacco bill to turn into ``Wheel of Fortune'' for trial lawyers. That is why my amendment caps attorney fees at $250 per hour. Under the current bill, trial lawyers will get some $4 billion per year. Billion--with a ``b''. And this is a conservative estimate-- assuming a 15 percent contingent fee. The Medicaid cases will generate $1.2 billion per year. The tort cases will yield some $2.8 billion per year. A Florida circuit court judge, Harold Cohen, estimated their fees at $185,186 per hour. Let's see how this compares to regular Americans. The average physician earns $96.15 per hour, the average lawyer makes $48.07 per hour, pharmacists make $25.98 per hour, police officers earn $16.65 per hour, carpenters make $13.03 per hour, automobile mechanics earn $12.35 per hour, barbers make $8.37 per hour, and bakers earn $7.65 per hour.”