By | Yes, Morgan and Morgan is a fully licensed, legitimate law firm, not a scam. It is the largest plaintiffs’ injury firm in the country, recovering tens of billions of dollars for clients since 1988. But “legitimate” doesn’t automatically mean “right for your case.” Below, we break down exactly how the firm works, what it charges, where it excels, and where real client complaints cluster, so you can decide with eyes open. |
What Is Morgan and Morgan?
Morgan and Morgan is a national plaintiffs’ law firm founded in 1988 by attorney John Morgan in Orlando, Florida. What began as a small personal injury practice has grown into the largest injury law firm in the United States, built around the trademarked promise that “the fee is free” unless Morgan and Morgan wins your case.
Morgan and Morgan represents only injured people, consumers, and employees. It does not defend corporations or insurance companies, and it does not practice criminal defense. If you’ve searched “is Morgan and Morgan a real law firm” or “who owns the firm,” the answer is straightforward: it is a licensed law firm led by founder John Morgan, with attorneys admitted to the bar in every state where it operates.
Table of Contents
How Big Is Morgan and Morgan? Key Numbers
Scale is the defining feature of Morgan and Morgan, and it’s worth understanding before you decide whether a large-volume firm fits your case.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1988, Orlando, Florida |
| Founder | John Morgan |
| Offices nationwide | 140+ across all 50 states |
| Attorneys | Roughly 1,000–1,200 |
| Total staff | 6,000+ employees |
| Client recoveries to date | Over $25 billion |
| 2024 annual revenue | Over $2 billion |
| Annual advertising spend | Roughly $350 million |
That advertising budget is part of why Morgan and Morgan is one of the most recognized law firm names in America, and why so many people search for an honest, non-promotional review before calling.
What Does Morgan and Morgan Handle? Practice Areas
The Morgan and Morgan case load is broader than most people realize. Here’s the full breakdown:
Personal Injury
- Car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip-and-fall and premises liability
- Workplace and construction site injuries
- Defective product injuries (product liability)
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
Consumer Protection & Class Actions
- Data breach and privacy litigation
- Defective or dangerous consumer products
- Corporate and financial fraud
- Deceptive business practices
Employment & Civil Rights
- Wrongful termination
- Workplace discrimination (race, gender, age, disability)
- Sexual harassment
- Unpaid wages and overtime disputes
- FMLA and ADA violations
Social Security, Disability & Veterans’ Claims
- Denied SSDI and SSI claims
- Camp Lejeune water contamination claims
- Burn pit exposure claims
- VA disability claim support
What Morgan and Morgan does NOT do: criminal defense. If you need a criminal defense attorney, this isn’t the right call. The entire practice is built around representing plaintiffs in civil matters.
How Much Does Morgan and Morgan Charge? Fee Structure Explained
This is the single most-searched question about Morgan and Morgan, and the answer is consistent across the personal injury industry: the firm works entirely on contingency.
| Stage of Case | Typical Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Settles before a lawsuit is filed | 33.33% | Most common scenario for straightforward claims |
| Lawsuit filed / case litigated | Up to 40% | Reflects added time, risk, and trial preparation |
| Case costs (filing fees, experts, records) | Deducted separately | Always request a written breakdown before signing |
In plain terms: you pay nothing to hire Morgan and Morgan, nothing while they investigate, and nothing at all if they don’t recover money for you. If they win or settle your case, their fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket up front. Before signing a retainer agreement with any contingency-fee firm, ask for the exact percentage in writing and a separate, itemized list of anticipated case costs, since those are deducted in addition to the attorney fee.
How the Morgan and Morgan Process Works, Step by Step
- Free case evaluation: submit your case online, by phone, or through the firm’s app, available 24/7.
- Sign a contingency retainer: no upfront payment is required.
- Investigation: the assigned legal team gathers medical records, accident reports, and expert opinions.
- Negotiation: most cases are resolved through settlement talks with the insurer or opposing counsel.
- Litigation, if necessary: Morgan and Morgan has the resources to take cases to trial when insurers won’t offer fair value.
- Disbursement: once resolved, the firm deducts its fee and case costs, then pays out your share.
Pros of Hiring Morgan and Morgan
- Resources for complex cases: the firm can fund expert witnesses, accident reconstructionists, and medical consultants that smaller firms often can’t afford, which matters most in truck accident, construction accident, and product liability claims.
- Zero financial risk: the contingency model means you owe nothing if the case doesn’t result in a recovery.
- Leverage with insurers: the size and trial record of Morgan and Morgan give it negotiating weight that can push insurers toward fairer settlement offers.
- Nationwide footprint: with offices in every state, clients can get representation and case management without needing to travel.
- A real, documented track record, including a $1.8 billion recovery for residents affected by the 2015 SoCalGas Porter Ranch gas leak and a $120 million verdict in a paralysis case against the City of Gainesville.
Cons and Common Morgan and Morgan Complaints
No honest review skips this part. Across Better Business Bureau filings and consumer review platforms, a few complaint patterns show up repeatedly:
- Communication drops after signing: the most frequently repeated complaint is that the intake process is fast and attentive, but contact slows significantly once a retainer is signed, with clients reporting difficulty reaching their attorney or getting case status updates.
- Cases dropped mid-process: some clients report being told months into a case that the firm has decided not to proceed with representation, often without a detailed explanation.
- Inconsistent quality across offices: with 1,000+ attorneys across 140+ locations, experience levels vary by office and by case type, and you aren’t guaranteed a senior litigator.
- Fee and cost confusion: some reviewers report that total deductions (fees plus case costs plus liens) were larger than expected, which underscores the importance of getting every deduction in writing up front.
- Settlement-pressure perception: a high-volume practice has an institutional incentive to resolve cases efficiently, and some clients with strong cases feel pushed toward early settlement rather than holding out for trial value.
None of this points to fraud or licensing problems. Morgan and Morgan is real, regulated, and produces real results. The complaints are structural, tied to operating at massive scale, not signs of illegitimacy.
Track Record at a Glance
| Category | What the Record Shows |
|---|---|
| Total client recoveries | Over $25 billion since 1988 |
| Notable case result | $1.8 billion recovered for SoCalGas Porter Ranch gas leak victims |
| Notable verdict | $120 million paralysis verdict against the City of Gainesville |
| Settlement rate | Majority of cases resolve before trial, consistent with industry norms |
| Public complaint volume | Hundreds of BBB and consumer-platform complaints, concentrated in communication issues |
Should You Hire Morgan and Morgan? A Decision Framework
| Likely a Good Fit | Consider Alternatives Instead |
|---|---|
| Clear-liability injury claim (car accident, slip-and-fall, med-mal) | Highly complex, multi-defendant litigation needing dedicated senior-partner attention |
| You cannot afford upfront legal fees | You want a local attorney with deep community/court ties |
| You’re up against a large insurer or corporation | A small claim where a 33–40% fee would consume most of the recovery |
| Your case benefits from heavy resources (trucking, construction, defective products) | You need frequent, direct one-on-one attorney contact |
| Class action / data breach / mass tort matter | Criminal defense (not a Morgan and Morgan practice area) |
How Long Does a Morgan and Morgan Case Take?
- Simple claim, clear liability, cooperative insurer: roughly 3–9 months
- Moderate injury claim with disputed damages: roughly 9–18 months
- Complex truck accident, construction, or malpractice case: 1–4 years
- Class action or mass tort litigation: 3–7+ years
A high-volume firm like Morgan and Morgan tends to prioritize settlement efficiency, which can mean faster resolution on smaller claims. For high-value, contested cases, ask directly about the assigned attorney’s trial experience and realistic timeline before you sign.
Is Morgan and Morgan a Scam?
No. Morgan and Morgan is a licensed law firm bound by the same Rules of Professional Conduct that govern every other attorney in the states where it practices. It has a public, court-verified record of billions of dollars recovered for real clients, and it isn’t a referral mill or unlicensed lead-generation operation.
What it is not, automatically, is the best fit for every case. Whether it’s the right choice depends on your claim’s size, complexity, and how much direct attorney access matters to you.
How to Hire Morgan and Morgan
- Submit a free case evaluation online, by phone, or through the firm’s app.
- Speak with a case manager about the facts of your situation. No legal jargon required.
- If the firm accepts your case, review and sign the contingency retainer agreement before any work begins.
Conclusion: Is Morgan and Morgan Worth Hiring?
For the right case, yes. Morgan and Morgan gives everyday people the ability to take on insurance companies and large corporations without financial risk, backed by genuine scale and a real recovery record. That scale is also the biggest tradeoff: individualized attention and consistent communication are harder to guarantee across 1,000+ attorneys and 140+ offices.
- Clear personal injury, truck accident, or construction accident claim: a free consultation is worth your time.
- Complex, high-value case with disputed liability across multiple defendants: get a second opinion from a specialized local firm before deciding.
- Small claim where a 33–40% fee would eat most of the recovery: a local attorney with a lower percentage or flat fee may net you more.
The consultation is free either way. Use it to ask hard questions before you sign anything.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for guidance specific to your situation. The Legal Briefs is an independent publication with no affiliation with Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What percentage does Morgan and Morgan take from a settlement?
Typically 33.33% if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, and up to 40% if a lawsuit is filed and the case proceeds to litigation. Case costs are deducted separately.
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Do you pay Morgan and Morgan if you lose?
No. Under the contingency agreement, you owe no attorney fee if the firm doesn’t recover money for you. Some retainer agreements still allow recovery of certain case costs, so read the agreement carefully.
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Is Morgan and Morgan only in Florida?
No. While the firm was founded in Orlando, it now operates 140+ offices across all 50 states.
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Does Morgan and Morgan take every case?
No. Cases are screened at intake, and only claims with clear legal merit and a realistic path to recovery are accepted. If your case is declined, a second opinion from another personal injury attorney is a reasonable next step.
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How long does a Morgan and Morgan case take to settle?
Simple claims may resolve in 3–9 months. Complex or litigated cases can take 1–4 years, and mass tort or class action matters can take several years.
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Is Morgan and Morgan worth it for a small claim?
It depends. For modest-value claims, a contingency fee of 33–40% can consume a large share of the recovery. Ask during the free consultation whether a large firm makes financial sense for your specific claim size.
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What is Morgan and Morgan’s success rate?
The firm doesn’t publish a precise win/loss percentage, but it has recovered over $25 billion for clients since 1988, and the majority of its cases settle before trial, consistent with industry norms.
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Does Morgan and Morgan handle employment law cases?
Yes, the firm handles wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour disputes, and FMLA/ADA violations.
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What do people complain about most in Morgan and Morgan reviews?
The most common complaint is reduced communication after a retainer is signed. Clients report fast, attentive intake followed by slower updates during the case itself, and some also report cases being dropped after months of representation.
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How do I evaluate Morgan and Morgan before hiring?
Ask who will handle your case day-to-day (attorney vs. case manager), ask about the assigned attorney’s trial experience with your case type, get a full written fee and cost breakdown, and compare with one or two local attorneys before deciding.
