FDNY Hit with $3.7 Million in Attorneys Fees

U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis has awarded attorneys for the Vulcan Society $3.7 million in fees for their work on the epic race discrimination suit against the city of New York and FDNY.

Judge Garaufis ruled that the attorneys were entitled to $300 to $500-per-hour based on the complexity of the issues in the case and the fact they were largely successful on the merits.

The attorneys originally sought $7.7 million in fees. The city argued that the Vulcan Society’s attorneys duplicated the work of government attorneys working on behalf of the EEOC. The city also argued that because the 2nd Circuit overturned a number of Judge Garaufis’ rulings the attorneys had not even been successful.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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