Class-action lawyers who secured a $190 million settlement against Johns Hopkins Medicine over gynecologist Nikita Levy's illegal filming of more than 8,000 female patients will receive $32 million in legal fees — less than half of what they originally sought.
The court order on fees was issued by a Baltimore judge Wednesday. More than two dozen former patients had objected to a request for a 35 percent fee, or $66.5 million, from Baltimore firms Schochor, Federico and Staton P.A., and Janet, Jenner & Suggs LLC, who represented them in the settlement.
The settlement was announced in July, five months after investigators found more than 1,300 videos and images, surreptitiously recorded during pelvic exams, in Levy's home and office.
The gynecologist, who practiced at Hopkins for 25 years, killed himself during the investigation. Days later, his patients sued the hospital for millions.
In his order, Judge Sylvester B. Cox wrote that he took into account the lawyers' judgment, care, resources, determination, talent, skills and experience in landing an "unprecedented" settlement.
But, he added, the fee would be "an enormous amount."
"An examination of cases wherein recoveries exceeded $100 million showed fee percentages that ranged from roughly 4% to roughly 18%," Cox wrote.
The lawyers also will receive $829,260 in expenses.
Attorneys Jonathan Schochor and Howard Janet said they would not challenge the order. Schochor, the lead attorney, said the $190 million settlement was "the highest single sex perpetrator settlement in the history of the U.S."
"We are very proud of the results we have been able to achieve on behalf of our class members," he said.
Schochor said he looked forward to the settlement being allocated to the clients.
Janet said the firms were "enormously appreciative" to have been appointed to represent the thousands of victims.
"We're certainly very pleased we were able to bring about an extraordinary result for our clients," he said.
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