Dangers of Attorney Fees

The Odessa American has the sad story of an employer who went to trial and lost only $500 in actual damages, but then found itself faced with a $90,000 attorneys fee bill that it owed the plaintiff's attorney. The suit arose over the right to wear a union button and a 3 day suspension. The ultimate outcome may be different, but it serves as a good reminder that a decision to take a case all the way to trial brings into play two elements of damage, attorneys fees and pre-judgment interest, which are sometimes overlooked.