Lawyer in Losing Case Must Pay $20K in Legal Costs; Opposing Counsel Sought Much More
A California lawyer whose Monterey County case over repairs to a squid boat was thrown out by the judge after he made his opening statement has been ordered to pay $20,728 in his opponent’s legal costs. Local attorneys say it could be a record sanction in the county.
But the opposing counsel, David Hollingsworth wasn’t happy, arguing that Richard DeSaulles should have to pay the entire cost of the litigation, not just a portion of it, the Herald reports.
He contended that DeSaulles, a Monterey College of Law instructor, had lied and fabricated evidence, the newspaper reports.
“If you think there was perjury, report it to the district attorney’s office,” Judge Kay Kingsley told him. “If you think there was misconduct, take it to the bar.”
Meanwhile, DeSaulles contends that Hollingsworth blocked him from getting the evidence he needed to prove his allegations.
