An Ontario court judge is calling the $510 million legal fee for attorneys involved in a First Nations treaty rights case “unreasonable” and has ordered the amount be reduced to $23 million.
The 2023 Robinson Huron Treaty settlement that sought to remedy unpaid treaty annuities for 21 First Nations resulted in a $10 billion settlement. More than 5 percent of that sum went to the lawyers who argued the case on behalf of the First Nations.
Two of the First Nations to benefit from the settlement launched a court challenge last year against the compensation awarded to the six lawyers who negotiated the final deal, saying $510 million out of the $10 billion settlement was excessive. The remaining 19 First Nations involved in the case did not provide explicit support for the court application….