Wis. court backs $5.6M fee award against Microsoft

(AP) -- An appeals court is ordering Microsoft Corp. to pay $5.6 million to a national law firm involved in a Wisconsin antitrust case against the software giant.

Zelle, Hofmann, Voelbel & Mason LLP represented consumers who bought Microsoft equipment in Wisconsin. A 2007 settlement required Microsoft to give customers vouchers up to $23 plus millions in technology reimbursements for public schools.

Microsoft claimed the firm should not receive any fees because its attorneys misrepresented hours they claimed to have worked. The firm denied that charge.

The District 1 Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling that Microsoft must pay $4.2 million in fees for the original litigation, plus another $1.4 million for the subsequent fee dispute.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.