Final approval has been granted to the U.S. government’s $125 million settlement that concludes class action claims regarding excessive fees associated with the PACER records system, a tool utilized by the federal courts. This decision, handed down by a D.C. federal judge this past Wednesday, also establishes almost $23.9 million in fees that will be allocated to the nonprofit plaintiffs’ attorneys associated with the case. The PACER system gives users access to court documents, and the fees for usage of this system were the primary focus of this class action claim.
This case reflects the broader discussions currently taking place within the legal profession regarding fee structures and practices. More specifically, it brings into focus the costs associated with accessing legal information and documents, an essential aspect of the profession.
For more in-depth details regarding the court’s decision and the terms of the settlement, the related information is provided in this
feature by Law360.