If you sue someone, you pay your court fees and lawyer fees no matter what, and if you lose, you pay the defendants court fees and lawyer fees in addition. But

If you sue someone, you pay your court fees and lawyer fees no matter what, and if you lose, you pay the defendants court fees and lawyer fees in addition. But the defendant doesn't pay the plaintiff's legal fees. It's not perfect, but I think it's better, and this (however incorrectly) is how I usually imagine "loser-pays". Secondly, there would probably need to be (in either version) a basic rate set for lawyer fees. I can have an expensive lawyer if I want, but I can only be "reimbursed" by the loser at the "basic rate". Maybe if I represent myself, I could even get my time reimbursed in the same way.