Local 1042, Co. 4 v. Conn. Labor Dept., No. Cv 01-0508535 S (Jan. 10, 2002)

**Union Ordered to Pay Attorney Fees After Contract Dispute** This case involved a dispute between Local 1042, a public employee union in Connecticut, and the state Labor Department over attorney fees. The union had been in a legal battle with the Labor Department and challenged the amount of attorney fees they were ordered to pay. The Connecticut Superior Court sided with the Labor Department, upholding an order requiring the union to pay $9,279.34 in attorney fees and costs. The union argued that fees charged after June 15, 1993, were excessive and unreasonable, but the court disagreed. The judge found that the Labor Board acted properly when it awarded these fees and rejected the union's claim that the board abused its authority. This ruling matters for workers because it shows that unions can be held financially responsible when they lose legal disputes with government agencies. While unions typically fight for workers' rights, they must carefully consider the financial risks of pursuing legal challenges. When unions lose cases, members may indirectly bear the costs through union dues. This case also demonstrates that courts will generally support labor boards' decisions about attorney fee awards unless there's clear evidence of wrongdoing.