When a judge ordered a massive payday for the lawyers in the House vs. NCAA settlement, fans flooded social media with distinct, pointed reactions. Regardless of interaction, most people have a negative experience with lawyers.
Lawyers work hard for their clients, whether under oath or in mediation, to maximize the best outcomes. Now, add in sports, and you get a recipe for disaster.
Fans Blast House vs. NCAA Plaintiff Lawyers Over $750 Million Pay
In court cases, if one side wins, occasionally the losing side, per the judge’s order, must pay the lawyer’s fees. It’s an “and to the victors, go the spoils” situation where the judges want the losers to pay dearly. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
After the parties reached the original $2.8 billion House vs. NCAA settlement, the plaintiffs’ lawyers received paid fees of $750 million. That will come directly from the damages award. This decision, by Judge Claudia Wilken, set social media ablaze in anger.
You could just stop after ‘win’
— HSBSG (@ScoringGuyGuy) July 11, 2025
“You could just stop after ‘win’”
Lawyers find money for their successful cases, and that money finds its way into their pockets. $750 million just seems like an abnormally large set of fees. In a way, the lawyers taking that much of the award are taking money out of the player’s hands, who took all the physical risk in the first place.
What if told you that these fees are actually lower than they usually would be?
— Caleb (@CalebVUA) July 11, 2025
“What if told you that these fees are actually lower than they usually would be?”
Social media brings out the contrarian to “well, actually” the process, attempting to throw cold water on the rage. However, this falls apart when you realize that the lawyers will take 37.33% of the money the former student athletes won.
Liars, I mean lawyers always win. Absolutely.
— jason merims (@jasonmerims) July 11, 2025
“Liars, I mean lawyers always win. Absolutely.”
In a perfect world, you’d hope the House lawyers would show some consideration. Their clients played at a time when no one made NIL money, and most benefits arrived through handshakes, mysterious envelopes, and third parties. No one gets a discount.
Too bad it didn’t drag out longer… They could have made it to 1 billion.
— Bot for Hire (@ZACHSPAULDING5) July 11, 2025
“Too bad it didn’t drag out longer… They could have made it to 1 billion.”
Trolls are the unfunny part of the process. In weak attempts at humor, they will take a hard stance in the hopes of engagement farming, the act of trying to elicit reactions, most likely outrage.
The attorneys’ fee award in House v. NCAA reaches new heights of absurdity. Though class counsel did an outstanding job, there should be a “reasonableness”cap on fees in a case like this. Nothing even the best lawyers on the planet could achieve in any case is worth $800 million. https://t.co/A8cjfLKLz8
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) July 11, 2025
“The attorneys’ fee award in House v. NCAA reaches new heights of absurdity. Though class counsel did an outstanding job, there should be a “reasonableness” cap on fees in a case like this. Nothing, not even the best lawyers on the planet, could achieve in any case is worth $800 million.”
Arkansas attorney Tom Marks provides the most honest take on this situation. $750 million seems steep for a settlement to pay lawyers. The judge’s order does not feel right. Once again, the former athletes watch the system, and the NCAA gets over it.
RELATED: Insider Weighs In on Why House Settlement Won’t Kill NIL Money
While the House vs. NCAA case ended, it will reverberate for decades as it set a new standard in college athletics. While some of the athletes benefit, others will not. Everyone cannot be a five-star recruit. Plenty of zero stars walking around, hoping to walk on before that goes by the wayside. However, the lawyers, as always, win in the end
