Private law firms may get half of damages in poultry case

Saturday, September 17th 2005, 9:25 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Private law firms could receive up to half of any money awarded to the state in a federal lawsuit against poultry companies accused of polluting eastern Oklahoma lakes and streams.

The attorneys' share of any judgment or settlement could reach tens of millions of dollars.

But law firms who are handling the case for the state could also lose a few million dollars. They're required to pay all upfront litigation costs with no guarantee of reimbursement.

Mike Turpen, a former attorney general and former chairman of the state Democratic Party, is a member of one of the law firms hired by the state.

Turpen's firm was awarded about $30-million for its work representing the state in a class-action lawsuit against tobacco companies.