Heather Sue Mercer's attorneys Duke has asked for either a new trial or a
reduction in the 2 million dollar award. Mercer's attorney's reply that 2
million is "less than one-tenth of 1 percent of Duke's net worth and less
than 1 percent of Duke's annual income from student tuition. In addition, Duke
receives $200 million a year in federal money," according to the the
N&O.
What bugs us is the whole business in one way, but even more than that that
attorneys typically get 33% of a settlement, so they are essentially naming
their salary in cases like these and you end up with guys like Dershowitz
working less than an hour on the tobacco litigation and asking for millions.