Common order
Gross-First Fee Calculation
The attorney fee is calculated from the total settlement or recovery before outstanding medical bills are subtracted.
Client-First Fee Promise
How Johnson Law's Client-First Fee Promise May Help You Keep More of a Settlement
In eligible personal injury matters, we subtract qualifying outstanding medical bills before calculating our attorney fee. That means we do not calculate our fee on medical bills you still owe when the promise applies.
At a Glance
The promise is about calculation order
Step 1
Recovery
Start with the settlement or recovery amount.
Step 2
Bills First
Address qualifying outstanding medical bills before the fee calculation.
Step 3
Fees Second
Calculate the attorney fee after those bills are handled.
Client-First Fee Promise
Client First = Bills First, Fees Second*
In eligible personal injury matters, Johnson Law subtracts qualifying outstanding medical bills before calculating its attorney fee, according to the written fee agreement.
We believe your unpaid medical bills should not make your lawyer's fee bigger. Our clients have received thousands of extra dollars from their settlements compared with a simple gross-first 33% fee structure.
*Every case is different. This is not a guarantee of outcome, settlement amount, or final net recovery.
The Problem
The Settlement Number Is Not the Only Number That Matters
After an injury, medical bills can make a settlement look larger than it feels. If a fee is calculated from the total recovery before unpaid medical bills are handled, the fee may be increased by bills the client still has to pay.
Client-first order
Bills-First Fee Calculation
Qualifying outstanding medical bills are addressed first, then the attorney fee is calculated under the written agreement.
Simplified Hypothetical
Example Fee Calculation
This example shows why the order of the calculation can matter. It assumes a $100,000 settlement, $30,000 in outstanding medical bills, and a 33.33% attorney fee.
Key Takeaway
About $10,000 potential difference in this example
The table below shows how changing the calculation order can affect the fee calculation base.
| Calculation item | Gross-first | Bills-first |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement or recovery | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Outstanding medical bills | $30,000 subtracted after fee | $30,000 subtracted before fee |
| Fee calculation base | $100,000 | $70,000 |
| Attorney fee at 33.33% | About $33,333 | About $23,333 |
| Potential difference in this example | - | About $10,000 |
Important: This is a simplified hypothetical example for educational purposes only. It is not a settlement estimate, savings guarantee, fee quote, or prediction of net recovery. Actual results depend on the written fee agreement, case costs, medical bills, liens, insurance issues, negotiated reductions, and case-specific facts.
Client-First Fee Promise FAQs
Answers to common questions about how Johnson Law explains attorney fees, medical bills, and net recovery.
What is Johnson Law's Client-First Fee Promise?
It is Johnson Law's commitment that, in eligible personal injury matters, qualifying outstanding medical bills are paid or addressed before the attorney fee is calculated, according to the written fee agreement.
Does this guarantee I will receive more money?
No. Every case is different, and no law firm can guarantee a settlement amount, case result, or final net recovery. The promise explains how Johnson Law calculates its fee in eligible matters.
Does this apply to every case?
Not necessarily. Eligibility depends on the written fee agreement, case facts, medical bills, liens, costs, insurance issues, and other case-specific circumstances.
What counts as an outstanding medical bill?
Outstanding medical bills are medical-related amounts that remain unpaid or unresolved when funds are being distributed. This may include provider balances, liens, or other medical-related claims that need to be addressed from a recovery.
How are case costs handled?
Attorney fees, case costs, and medical bills are separate issues. Johnson Law explains fee and cost terms in writing before representation begins.
Can Johnson Law explain this before I sign anything?
Yes. During a consultation, Johnson Law can explain how the written fee agreement works and how the Client-First Fee Promise may apply to your case.
Questions About a Settlement or Medical Bills?
Ask Before You Sign
Talk to Johnson Law about your case and ask how the Client-First Fee Promise may apply under the written fee agreement.
Free consultation
Attorney fees, case costs, and medical bills explained in writing
Related pages and next steps
Continue to the most useful service pages, guides, and trust pages for this topic.
Explore Johnson Law services
Helpful next pages if you are still researching your legal options.
- Practice areas
Review the main case types Johnson Law handles across Oregon.
- Locations
Find city-specific pages and local service area information.
- Resources
Browse guides, FAQs, checklists, and educational legal materials.
- Free consultation
Speak with Johnson Law about your case and next steps.
Build trust before you decide
- Client reviews
Read what former clients say about working with Johnson Law.
- Case results
See representative outcomes across injury and property-damage matters.
- Client-First Fee Promise
Understand Johnson Law’s fee structure and client-first approach.
- Our process
See what to expect from consultation through resolution.