US: Apple feuds with court-appointed monitor

Following the establishment of an independent monitor by a court to oversee Apple Inc. and its eBooks operations, reports say the tech giant has expressed disagreement with the monitor over how much money it charges.

Reports say that in all of Apple’s business history, this lawyer has a higher rate than any known to the company; according to a court filing, lawyer Michael Bromwich is charging $1,100 per hour.

In the filing made to federal court in New York, Apple claims “Mr. Bromwich appears to be simply taking advantage of the fact that there is no competition her or, in his view, any ability on the part of Apple, the subject of his authority, to push back on his demands.”

In addition to the hourly fee, Bromwich is reportedly charging a 15 percent administrative fee as well as the cost of the hiring of assistant lawyers.

Bromwich, who used to work as a US Department of Justice inspector general, was appointed to Apple as an independent monitor last October following US District Judge Denise Cote’s ruling in July that Apple conspired to fix eBooks prices in establishing contracts with eBook publishers.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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