Judge gives lawyers $3.5M in NY firefighters’ case
Aug 31, 2013, 1:43 AM
NEW YORK (AP) – A judge has granted $3.5 million in fees to lawyers representing a group of black firefighters who sued the Fire Department of New York over its hiring practices more than a decade ago.
The U.S. District Court judge granted the payout plus $151,000 in costs Friday. Attorneys for the Vulcan Society firefighters had asked for $7 million.
Lawyers for the group billed for 14,000 hours.
An appeals court in May ruled the fire department must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it doesn’t discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices. The three-judge panel had removed the District Court judge from the case for trial purposes but left him in charge of the remedial process.
The city has said it expects more minority firefighters after a new entrance exam was approved last year.
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