Judge cuts $2.4M 'Cadillac Escalade' legal fee bid by Beastie Boys, OKs $700K 'Honda Civic' award
Equating a bid by the Beastie Boys for reimbursement of a claimed $2.4 million in legal fees to a Cadillac Escalade, a federal judge in New York on Monday cut the award to a more reasonable “Honda Civic” version.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer awarded the iconic hip-hop group only $667,849 against Monster Energy, which was found in a trial last year to have violated copyright law by using portions of Beastie Boys songs in advertising without permission, USA Today reports.
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton represented the Beastie Boys.
“It was the Beastie boys’ prerogative to commission or approve such staffing,” Engelmayer wrote. “But the issue for this court is whether it is reasonable to shift the resulting fees to Monster, their adversary. And there is ample authority … for reducing a fee award where the legal hours recorded by plaintiffs’ counsel fell unusually heavily on partners with high hourly rates.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Beastie Boys seek $2.4M from Monster Energy to cover legal fees in copyright case”
