FOIA Advisor

FOIA News: Gov't ordered to pay attorney's fees in PPP loan case

FOIA News (2015-2023)Allan BlutsteinComment

Ballard Spahr Wins $122K in Legal Fees in FOIA Suit Over PPP Loan Secrecy

The open records lawsuit ultimately forced the Trump administration to released detailed information about who received PPP loans.

By Nate Robson, Nat’l Law Journal, January 21, 2021

Ballard Spahr will receive $122,347 in legal fees for its work in an open records lawsuit that forced the U.S. government to release detailed information about who received hundreds of millions of dollars through a COVID-19 emergency loan program.

The law firm asked for nearly $154,842 in fees and costs, but U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia on Thursday said Ballard Spahr failed to support its billing rates and hours worked, and subsequently shaved off nearly $32,000

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