Papa John’s founder, John Schnatter, has been ordered to pay nearly $48,000 in legal fees as part of a discovery dispute related to his departure from the company. The decision came from Magistrate Judge Colin H. Lindsay of the US District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The judge concluded that the hourly rates and hours billed by the attorneys representing the marketing firm involved were excessive and not reasonable.
The law firms Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP of California and Kaplan Johnson Abate & Bird LLP of Kentucky were initially seeking around $102,000 in fees. However, the court significantly reduced this amount, ultimately awarding $47,518.25. The reduction reflects the court’s assessment of what constitutes reasonable legal expenses given the specifics of the case.
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