at Dorman's suit. Not having read the contract he & Blackburn signed, I would assume it is a boiler plate which stipulates the percentage of any lawsuit settlement the attorney is to receive.

It likely does not address the issue of payments made to prevent a lawsuit being filed.

No lawsuit was filed. Thus no percentage of settlement payment is earned. And the payments made by the Senator would not qualify as an out of court settlement.

Now the injured party still has time to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.

Mr. Dorman, where did you attend law school?