Judge Limits Legal Fees in Bloomington Annexation Case, Capping at $37,500
A Monroe County Circuit judge has ruled that the City of Bloomington will pay $37,500 in legal fees to the law firm representing a group of residents who successfully opposed the city's annexation attempt. The law firm, Bunger & Robertson, argued for nearly $200,000 in reimbursement for their extensive legal work on behalf of County Residents Against Annexation. However, Judge Nathan Nikirk rejected this claim, citing the statutory cap on legal fees in annexation cases. The judge also noted that the group did not qualify for additional recovery as they do not own the land targeted for annexation. This decision follows a lengthy legal battle that concluded in February when the Indiana Supreme Court dismissed the city's appeals.