Fourth Circuit reverses $500,000+ in fees and costs for "marginally successful" case

In Knussman v. State of Maryland, the Fourth Circuit in a per curiam opinion for the panel of Judges Widener, Williams, and Traxler reversed the trial court's award of more than $500,000 in attorneys' fees and costs, in a section 1983 case where many of the claims and parties were dismissed, and the jury verdict for emotional distress was reduced to $40,000.