USA Gymnastics' bankruptcy in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal has been a "lucrative endeavor" for the case's lawyers, but the legal fight over the NGB's money has "yet to produce a dollar for an abuse victim," according to Will Hobson of the WASHINGTON POST. The case's top attorneys are said to be charging $1,000-plus hourly rates, and three lawyers have "billed more than $600,000 individually in the first year." That is just part of more than $7M in legal fees "approved, by a judge, on a preliminary basis." To some attorneys and victims, the rising legal fees are "prompting concerns about how much will be left for victims when the case is over." Jenner & Block, the national firm hired by USAG to represent its interests, is discounting its services by 10%, but "even at reduced rates the firm has billed" more than $3.1M. Jenner & Block partner Melissa Root, who makes $935 per hour, has "billed about $860,000, records show, and fellow partner Catherine Steege, who makes $1,150 per hour, has billed about $780,000." The firm said that these figures "represent Root's and Steege's normal hourly rates." Meanwhile, the lawyer hired by Nassar victims to represent their interests -- James Stang -- is "working for $1,145 per hour." He has "billed about $615,000," records show, part of $1.9M billed by his firm, Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones (WASHINGTON POST, 12/18).
