Big Law Entitled to Pro Bono Fees, Michigan Justices Rule (1)

Michigan courts can’t reduce awards for attorneys and law firms doing pro bono work—even groups with hundreds of litigators—just because the counselors aren’t charging the clients, the state high court ruled Wednesday.

The split-decision reversed a lower court’s 90% reduction of a fee-shifting award for lawyers working at Honigman LLP, a nine-office firm with more than 300 attorneys. The Honigman lawyers had teamed up with the American Civil Liberties Union to sue the state Department of Corrections (MDOC) to release video and audio recordings of a fight that led to an inmate’s death.

The decision of first ...