LRB-0592/1
CMH:eev:jm
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
February 18, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Kuglitsch, August, A. Ott,
Craig, Stone, Schraa, Jacque, Spiros, Stroebel and Thiesfeldt, cosponsored
by Senators Grothman, Vukmir and Farrow. Referred to Committee on
Judiciary.
AB27,1,3 1An Act to amend 14.11 (2) (b), 16.705 (1) and 108.14 (3m); and to create 20.9305
2of the statutes; relating to: state agencies entering into contracts for legal
3services on a contingent fee basis.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill generally prohibits a state agency from contracting to provide legal
services for the state on a contingent fee basis unless the governor makes a written
determination that entering into such a contract is cost-effective and in the public
interest. If the governor makes such a determination, this bill imposes limits on
aggregate contingency fees based on the amount of the recovery as follows: if the
recovery is less than $10 million, the contingency fee limit is 25 percent of that
recovery; if the recovery is between $10 million and $15 million, the limit is 20
percent of that recovery; if the recovery is between $15 million and $20 million, the
limit is 15 percent of that recovery; if the recovery is between $20 million and $25
million, the limit is 10 percent of that recovery; and if the recovery is $25 million or
more, the limit is 5 percent of that recovery. In addition, this bill requires that
attorneys employed by the state retain certain powers in the contract. For instance,
the state attorneys must retain control over the course and conduct of the case, may
reject decisions made by any attorney retained under the contract, and have
exclusive discretion regarding settlement decisions. This bill also requires that
copies of such contingency fee contracts and notice of the amount of any contingency
fees paid be posted on the Internet site of the office of the governor. Finally, this bill
requires any attorney who is party to a contingency fee contract with the state to
maintain financial records related to the legal services provided.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB27,1 1Section 1. 14.11 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB27,2,82 14.11 (2) (b) When special counsel is employed, a contract in writing shall be
3entered into between the state and such counsel, in which shall be fixed the
4compensation to be paid such counsel by the state. If the compensation is being
5determined on a contingent fee basis, the contract is subject to s. 20.9305.
The
6contract shall be executed in behalf of the state by the governor, and shall be filed in
7the office of the secretary of state. Such compensation shall be charged to the special
8counsel appropriation in s. 20.455 (1) (b).
AB27,2 9Section 2. 16.705 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB27,2,1410 16.705 (1) The department or its agents may contract for services which can
11be performed more economically or efficiently by such contract. The department
12shall, by rule, prescribe uniform procedures for determining whether services are
13appropriate for contracting under this subsection. If the services are legal services
14paid on a contingent fee basis, the contract is subject to s. 20.9305.
AB27,3 15Section 3. 20.9305 of the statutes is created to read:
AB27,2,18 1620.9305 Contracting for legal services on a contingent fee basis. (1)
17Except as provided in sub. (2), a state agency may not contract for legal services on
18a contingent fee basis.
AB27,3,2 19(2) (a) The prohibition under sub. (1) does not apply if the governor makes a
20written determination that contracting for legal services for the state on a contingent

1fee basis is cost-effective and in the public interest. In the written determination,
2the governor shall include all of the following:
AB27,3,43 1. A finding that there are sufficient and appropriate legal and financial
4resources in the attorney general's office to contract for the legal services.
AB27,3,75 2. The amount of time and labor required to perform the legal services,
6including the novelty, complexity, and difficulty of the legal issues involved and the
7required skill.
AB27,3,88 3. The geographic area where the legal services are to be provided.
AB27,3,109 4. The amount of experience with similar legal issues or cases needed for the
10particular type of legal services to be provided.
AB27,3,1411 (b) If the governor makes a determination under par. (a), the governor shall
12invite proposals to be submitted unless the governor determines that inviting
13proposals is not feasible and sets forth the basis for this determination in writing.
14Section 16.75 (1) does not apply to this subsection.
AB27,3,1615 (c) 1. No contract entered into under this subsection may provide an aggregate
16contingency fee that is more than any of the following:
AB27,3,1717 a. If the recovery is less than $10 million, 25 percent of the recovery.
AB27,3,1918 b. If the recovery is at least $10 million but less than $15 million, 20 percent
19of the recovery.
AB27,3,2120 c. If the recovery is at least $15 million but less than $20 million, 15 percent
21of the recovery.
AB27,3,2322 d. If the recovery is at least $20 million but less than $25 million, 10 percent
23of the recovery.
AB27,3,2424 e. If the recovery is at least $25 million, 5 percent of the recovery.
AB27,4,4
12. The aggregate contingency fee for one action under this subsection may not
2exceed $30 million, excluding reasonable costs and expenses, without regard to the
3number of attorneys retained or the number of lawsuits filed. A contingency fee may
4not be based on penalties or fines or any amounts attributable to penalties or fines.
AB27,4,85 (d) Every contract entered into under this subsection shall contain standard
6language, developed by the governor, that outlines all of the requirements under par.
7(f) and that provides for all of the following, during the period of the contract and
8during any extension of the contract:
AB27,4,109 1. The attorneys for the governor and the attorney general to retain control over
10the course and conduct of the case.
AB27,4,1211 2. An attorney employed by the state who has supervisory authority to be
12personally involved in overseeing the case.
AB27,4,1413 3. The attorneys employed by the state to have the power to reject any decisions
14made by any attorney retained under the contract.
AB27,4,1615 4. Any defendant in the case to be able to contact the lead attorney employed
16by the state without having to confer with an attorney retained under the contract.
AB27,4,1817 5. An attorney employed by the state with supervisory authority to attend all
18settlement conferences.
AB27,4,2019 6. An attorney employed by the state to have exclusive discretion regarding
20settlement decisions.
AB27,4,2221 (e) The governor shall ensure that all of the following are available to the public
22on the Internet site of the office of the governor:
AB27,5,223 1. A copy of any contingency fee contract entered into under this subsection and
24of the corresponding determination under par. (a) during the period beginning 5 days

1after the contract is entered into and ending when the contract and all of its
2extensions expire or are terminated.
AB27,5,53 2. Notice of the amount of any contingency fees paid under a contract entered
4into under this subsection during the period beginning 15 days after payment is
5made and ending 365 days after the payment is made.
AB27,5,96 (f) An attorney who is party to a contract entered into under this subsection
7shall, during the period beginning from the date the contract is entered into until 4
8years after the contract and all of its extensions expire or are terminated, do all of
9the following:
AB27,5,1210 1. Maintain records, including documentation of all expenses, disbursements,
11charges, credits, receipts and invoices, and other financial transactions, that relate
12to the provision of the legal services under this subsection.
AB27,5,1413 2. Make all records maintained under subd. 1. available, upon request, for
14inspection and copying as provided under s. 19.35 (1).
AB27,5,1815 3. Maintain current records detailing the time, in increments no greater than
16one-tenth of an hour, that attorneys and paralegals spent working under the
17contract and provide the record, as soon as practically possible, to the governor upon
18request.
AB27,5,2219 (g) Annually, no later than February 1, the governor shall submit a report to
20the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under
21s. 13.172 (2) that describes the use of contingency fee contracts under this subsection.
22The report shall include all of the following:
AB27,5,2523 1. All contracts entered into under this subsection in the year prior to the
24submittal of the report and all contracts that were active in the year prior to the
25submittal of the report. The report shall include for each contract all of the following:
AB27,6,2
1a. The name of the attorney and the attorney's law firm with which the agency
2has contracted.
AB27,6,33 b. The nature and status of the legal matter under contract.
AB27,6,44 c. The name of the parties to the legal matter.
AB27,6,55 d. The amount of any recovery.
AB27,6,66 e. The amount of any contingency fee paid.
AB27,6,77 2. Copies of written determinations made under par. (a).
AB27,4 8Section 4. 108.14 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB27,6,189 108.14 (3m) In any court action to enforce this chapter the department, the
10commission, and the state may be represented by any licensed attorney who is an
11employee of the department or the commission and is designated by either of them
12for this purpose or at the request of either of them by the department of justice. If
13the governor designates special counsel to defend, in behalf of the state, the validity
14of this chapter or of any provision of Title IX of the social security act, the expenses
15and compensation of the special counsel and of any experts employed by the
16department in connection with that proceeding may be charged to the administrative
17account. If the compensation is being determined on a contingent fee basis, the
18contract is subject to s. 20.9305.
AB27,5 19Section 5. Initial applicability.
AB27,6,2120 (1) This act first applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended on the
21effective date of this subsection.
AB27,6,2222 (End)
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