Common use of Backstop Fund and Waiver of Contingency Fee Clause in Contracts

Backstop Fund and Waiver of Contingency Fee. The Parties agree that the Participating Local Governments will create a supplemental attorney fees fund (the “Backstop Fund”) to be used to compensate private attorneys (“Counsel”) for Local Governments that filed opioid lawsuits on or before December 3, 2021 (“Litigating Local Governments”). By order3 dated August 6, 2021, Judge Xxxxxxx capped all applicable contingent fee agreements at 15%. Judge Xxxxxxx’x 15% cap does not limit fees from the National Attorney Fee Fund or from any state backstop fund for attorney fees, but private attorneys for local governments must waive their contingent fee agreements to receive payment from the National Attorney Fee Fund. Judge Xxxxxxx recognized that a state backstop fund can be designed to incentivize private attorneys to waive their right to enforce contingent fee agreements and instead apply to the National Attorney Fee Fund, with the goals of achieving greater subdivision participation and higher ultimate payouts to both states and local governments. Accordingly, in order to seek payment from the Backstop Fund, Counsel must agree to waive their contingency fee agreements relating to these National Settlement Agreements and first apply to the National Attorney Fee Fund.