Lawsuit alleges Chadbourne overcharged for computerized legal research

Lawsuit alleges Chadbourne overcharged for computerized legal research, Nat'l L.J. (law.com), May 7, 2009:

A California plaintiffs' attorney has filed a lawsuit against a New York-based law firm on a behalf of a former client of the firm for what she claims is a hidden but widespread practice within the legal profession: law firms secretly profiting off legal research fees by overcharging clients.

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Meyer of San Diego's Patricia Meyer & Associates said that many similar lawsuits are in the pipeline, noting that she has amassed evidence that shows at least a dozen other law firms are overcharging clients for legal research, but not telling them.

Meyer alleges that firms are using Westlaw and LexisNexis as profit centers -- subscribing under flat-rate contracts, but billing clients as if the firms are being charged the higher, hourly rates.