Court Ruling — S.D.N.Y, 2025 #10757147

**Court Orders Contractor to Pay Bank's Legal Fees in Discrimination Case** This case involved a legal dispute where Marco Contractors faced claims related to discrimination involving Citizens Financial Group, Inc. The specific details of the underlying discrimination allegations weren't provided, but the case reached a point where the court needed to determine who should pay legal fees. The court decided that Marco Contractors must pay Citizens Financial Group $258,578.70 to cover the bank's attorneys' fees and costs. This payment was specifically for expenses related to preparing for and conducting depositions (sworn testimony given outside of court). A Special Master (a court-appointed expert) had recommended this amount, and the judge agreed with some modifications to reduce certain fee categories that were considered unreasonable. **What this means for workers:** This ruling shows that discrimination cases can result in significant financial consequences, even for legal fees alone. When employers or contractors lose discrimination-related disputes, they may be required to pay the other party's legal costs on top of any damages. This demonstrates the serious financial risks companies face when discrimination claims are brought against them, which may encourage employers to take discrimination prevention more seriously in their workplaces.