Wisconsin bill would limit attorney fee judgments

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature are trying to cap attorney fee awards after a firm owned by a GOP donor had to pay more than $150,000 in legal costs.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the legal fees were included in a settlement after a man alleged he had to pay John Lynch Chevrolet-Pontiac nearly $5,000 for repairs he never approved.

Burlington Republican Rep. Robin Vos has written a bill that would limit attorney fees in such cases to three times the amount in dispute.

The Burlington dealership is owned by David Lynch, a Vos constituent and GOP donor.

Vos says the limits would provide certainty for businesses. But consumer advocates contend they would weaken Wisconsin’s consumer protection laws because lawyers wouldn’t agree to take cases for relatively small amounts.