Court upholds $14M paid to attorneys in MCI case

A Hinds County circuit judge has upheld $14 million in attorneys fees related to the state's 2005 MCI/WorldCom settlement.

Circuit Judge Winston Kidd's ruling dismisses a challenge filed by the state auditor's office in 2007 as having "no merit."

Lisa Shoemaker, spokeswoman for State Auditor Stacey Pickering, said a statement will be released later today.

Through the 2005 settlement, the state received $100 million from MCI, and MCI agreed to pay $14 million to the then-Langston Law Firm to cover the state's attorney fees.

Clarion-Ledger
2/19/10