If your numbers are right, then they could afford to pay for 20 hours of work. That's probably not enough to even file the suit. Again, this assumes your numbers are right but even if they were 10x this it may still not make sense to file a suit.

Unfortunately, I don't think the math works out in their favor.

[–] Adalast@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Except that most firms that charge $2000/hour take the fee from the settlement, not up front, when doing civil litigation. Really only criminal law is paid directly by the client, at least in the US.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Well let's say $30k, treble damages to $90k. So up to 45 hours of billable time before losing money. I don't know how much time a suit takes, but I'm pretty sure it's more than that. I don't know how likely it is for them to award legal fees, either.

Even if they work on contingency, they'd still have to be sure they'd win and turn a profit before they'd take the case.

[–] Adalast@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

That is where punitive damages come in. Most huge settlements are substantially punitive, which are damages awarded not on merit, but with the express intent of making the settlement hurt enough that the offender, and others in similar situations, think twice about taking similar actions.

[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Most humans are priced out of their dignity at even risking a $2000/hr expense.

[–] uis@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago

Which loosing party will have to pay. Unless you want them to sue in baboon's jungle court of America.