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US: Lawyer considers rare sanction a ‘badge of honor,’ other plaintiffs’ lawyers alarmed

By  |  March 26, 2013
US: Lawyer considers rare sanction a ‘badge of honor,’ other plaintiffs’ lawyers alarmed

The plaintiffs’ lawyer who was served a rare sanction on Monday concerning his contesting of the Southwest Airlines and AirTran 2011 merger has called the reprimand a “badge of honor.” Joseph Alioto of the Alioto Law Firm was ordered to pay $67,495 in legal fees for what the defendants called “unreasonable and vexatious” litigation, a rare order that has added fuel to the debate concerning private antitrust litigation. In response, Alioto has said his fight against these mergers will continue, vowing to challenge those that impact the people “so long as the government does not do it.” Alioto said he would personally pay the fee. The fee, however, has reportedly brought concern to other plaintiffs’ lawyers as the court did not clearly specify the guidelines to determining what makes a challenge “vexatious.”

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