#legal-fees
#legal-fees

East Bay (California)

California city sues councilmember at center of $700,000 sexual harassment lawsuits

The city of Montclair is pursuing legal action against Councilmember Ben Lopez for damages incurred in sexual harassment lawsuits.

The city seeks to recover over $700,000 in legal fees it has paid as a result of the employees' lawsuits. [ more ]

New York Post

Black Lives Matter

Defund-police activist ordered to pay legal bills for BLM after claiming group owed her $10M

Black Lives Matter activist may have to pay over $700,000 in legal fees for a "frivolous" lawsuit against the national group.

She has already been ordered to pay $100,698 in legal fees, and a judge will decide whether she will have to pay an additional $600,000. [ more ]

Above the Law

Are Trump's Loser Lawyers Part Of A Deep State Conspiracy Or Merely Using His Supporters To Enrich Themselves?

Trump spent $50 million on legal fees and expenses in 2020.

Despite the high spending, Trump keeps losing in court. [ more ]

www.mediaite.com

Rudy Giuliani Claims Trump Campaign Owes Him $2 Million

Rudy Giuliani claims that Trump's 2020 campaign owes him $2 million in legal fees.

Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in December after being ordered to pay $148 million in damages to election workers he defamed. [ more ]

Truthout

DeSantis Vows to Veto GOP Bill to Pay Trump's Legal Fees With Taxpayer Money

A plan to use taxpayer funds to assist Donald Trump in covering legal fees has been abandoned after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he would veto the proposal.

The proposed legislation would have allowed Florida to give up to $5 million to Trump as he faces multiple legal challenges.

The bill had received backing from Florida's Republican chief financial officer and a member of DeSantis's Cabinet. [ more ]

www.berkeleyside.org

East Bay food

Donald Trump ordered to pay legal fees of Berkeley journalist over baseless suit

Former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees to The New York Times and three of its investigative reporters.

The lawsuit was filed by Trump after The New York Times published an investigation into his finances, revealing tax schemes and fraud behind his fortune.

The investigation was based on over 100,000 pages of documents, some obtained with the help of Trump's estranged niece, Mary Trump. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

E Jean Carroll lawyer warns Trump plans to turn damages trial into circus'

Lawyer in defamation case asks judge to ensure Trump does not disrupt legal proceedings

Trump ordered to pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees to the New York Times [ more ]

Intelligencer

4 months ago

Trump Spent Legal Defense Fund Money at Mar-a-Lago

The Patriot Legal Defense Fund was created to help former Trump associates with their legal fees.

The fund has raised $1.6 million but has only spent $28,578, mostly at Mar-a-Lago. [ more ]

moredonald-trump

Axios

3 weeks ago

Left-wing politics

Scoop: DNC covered Biden legal bills in special counsel probe

The DNC paid over $1.5 million to lawyers representing Biden during a probe into his handling of classified documents, leading to no charges being pursued. [ more ]

Miami Herald

4 weeks ago

Miami

A county commissioner is representing Diaz de la Portilla in criminal corruption case

Keon Hardemon, a criminal defense attorney, quietly working with legal team representing Alex Díaz de la Portilla in bribery and money laundering case.

Hardemon, paid $25,000 by de la Portilla's political committee for 'legal fees', assists in demonstrating charges as political and fabricated. [ more ]

Above the Law

Lawyers Should Share Their Billable Hour Rates With Other Attorneys

Sharing salary information can empower employees.

Legal fees can vary significantly based on factors like experience and firm size. [ more ]

ABA Journal

Use of ChatGPT to support fee bid is 'utterly and unusually unpersuasive,' federal judge says

Judge reduced law firm's fee request by half due to ChatGPT use

Proper references essential for determining prevailing market rates [ more ]

Above the Law

Firm Submits Fee Request Based On ChatGPT Search... Judge Is Less Than Impressed

Judge Engelmayer is skeptical of using artificial intelligence like ChatGPT to determine reasonable fees for legal services.

The Cuddy Law Firm's attempt to justify high fees using ChatGPT data was deemed unpersuasive and inappropriate. [ more ]

Above the Law

OGC's Managing Partner On Why An Alternative Approach To The 'Broken' Billable Hour Is Needed

Companies complain about high legal fees but they continue to rise every year.

OGC is a boutique firm that offers affordable and predictable legal counsel services. [ more ]

Above the Law

Morning Docket: 01.31.24

Elon Musk's Tesla pay package careens into wall and catches fire.

The annoyance of lawyers being treated like children.

The misconception of ChatGPT being a legal research tool.

Trump donors paying $50 million in legal fees last year.

The correlation between high school debaters and great lawyers. [ more ]

Above the Law

Donald Trump's Nonsensical Lawsuits Are Giving People The False Impression That Legal Fees Are Commonly Awarded

Fee awards in legal cases are extremely rare in most practice areas.

In the United States, the "American Rule" states that each side pays their own legal fees. [ more ]

Createsend

World news

The Morning Risk Report: Gunvor Unit to Pay $661 Million After Pleading Guilty in Bribery Scheme

Gunvor Group to pay $661 million for bribery

Tesla lawyers seek $5.6 billion in stock for legal fees

Swiss central banker Thomas Jordan steps down [ more ]

Creative Bloq

Graphic design

Turns out you can get sued for putting your own face on a shower curtain

Cam'ron (formerly Killa Cam) sued for copyright infringement after using his image on merchandise without proper licensing.

Federal court fined Cam'ron $51,221.50 for damages and legal fees, significantly more than the original licensing fee of $5,790. [ more ]

New York Post

EU data protection

Prince Harry drops libel claim against UK paper hours before set to hand over documents to the court

Prince Harry withdrew his libel case against a UK newspaper just hours before handing over relevant documents to the High Court.

Harry may have to pay over $950,000 in fees for the newspaper and his own attorneys.

He had sued Associated Newspapers Limited over an article that accused him of misleading the public about paying for personal security. [ more ]

New York Post

NYC politics

NY taxpayers fork over $565K to Cuomo campaign for legal fee reimbursement

New York taxpayers reimbursed ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo over half a million dollars for his legal fees.

The state is required to cover legal expenses for current or former elected officials who aren't convicted. [ more ]

POLITICO

NYC politics

Cuomo's campaign gets $565,000 from taxpayers. And more is on the way.

Cuomo has received a $565,000 check from the state comptroller's office due to a law that allows reimbursement for legal fees.

Cuomo has paid $6.9 million in legal fees since impeachment proceedings started in 2021. [ more ]

Axios

4 months ago

Rudy Giuliani faces $148 million in damages for defaming Georgia election workers

Rudy Giuliani has been ordered to pay $148 million in damages for defaming two Georgia election workers.

The decision adds to Giuliani's mounting legal fees and financial troubles. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

5 months ago

UK politics

UK taxpayers to bear extra cost over Rwanda treaty

The signing of the deportation treaty with Rwanda will result in extra costs for British taxpayers.

The UK will pay for British and Commonwealth judges and all legal fees related to the new appeals process. [ more ]

Above the Law

5 months ago