for a $1.25 billion settlement in In Re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation''. The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, which, among other provisions, regulates the fees that can be awarded in a class action, was passed in response to concerns that courts were not adequately overseeing the award of such fees. The overriding principle in awarding attorney's fees is reasonableness. Courts may reduce attorney's fee awards they find to be unreasonable and excessive. See also Costs in English law Criminal costs References Further reading External links The Colorado Bar Association 2000 Economic Survey link broken "Medical Malpractice – Attorney's Fees" QLR Research Report 2003-R-0664 By: George Coppolo, Chief Attorney Legal costs Practice of law Payments