Motley Rice could earn $67 million in Meta legal case

The law firm Motley Rice could earn up to $67.1 million in legal fees from the state of New Mexico for its role in litigation against Meta Platforms. The potential payout follows a judicial ruling that Meta fostered social media addiction and other harms on its platforms.

A judge recently ordered Meta to pay $567 million, and a separate jury had previously levied $375 million in civil penalties, bringing the state’s total potential recovery to over $942 million. Meta has indicated it will appeal the decisions.

Under a 2024 contingency contract, Motley Rice’s fees are scaled based on the total recovery amount. If the state recovers the full $942 million, the firm’s requested award would represent approximately 7% of the total funds. The firm stated it will continue to support the New Mexico Department of Justice in holding Meta accountable for risks to children.