LEO: Witnesses — Payment by Attorney, LE Op. 587

 

    Witnesses — Payment by Attorney.

 

    June 14, 1984

 

    It is not improper for an attorney to compensate a witness for the reasonable value of time expended in the preparation for, and rendering of, testimony in litigation, when the client remains ultimately responsible, the compensation is not an inducement to testify and is not contingent upon the outcome of the case. The amount of the compensation should be a fair value of time expended calculated by a usual hourly charge or by some other method which determines the reasonable value of time spent. [DR:7-108(C)]

 

Committee Opinion June 14, 1984