Maryland Employment Law Firm Rebuked by Judge for Overbilling

A Maryland employment law firm lost its challenge to a reduction in attorneys’ fees, which a judge called “utterly unreasonable,” only to receive an award of about 10% of its requested amount.

Melehy & Associates LLC had petitioned for fees and costs totaling about $265,000 after securing a “modest win” for their client—a sum that is “unconscionable” on “indefensible grounds,” said Judge Deborah L. Boardman with the US District Court for the District of Maryland. Boardman affirmed a district court award of roughly $31,000—including about $9,300 in costs—to the law firm, denying the firm’s motion for reconsideration.

“None of M&A’s ...