The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has directed that an inquiry be conducted into an alleged close friendship between a federal magistrate judge and the lead attorney of the plaintiff in a business dispute. This dispute previously led to a sizable bench award of $124.5 million. (National Law Journal)
For further investigation, recent decision cast by the Fifth Circuit implied a need for additional information to assess whether this award to IFG Port Holdings LLC should be revoked. The focus of contention surrounds U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay. Presiding over the former dispute, an undisclosed longstanding friendship with IFG attorney William Monk has alleged by the AP.
The Fifth Circuit panel unanimously returned the case to the district court, noting that justice would be compromised by any undisclosed personal relationship. Outcome of this investigation could potentially have significant implications for the ruling.