United States First Circuit

The question of whether the plaintiffs' success in obtaining equitable relief is sufficiently meaningful to warrant prevailing party status for purposes of an attorneys' fees award is case specific. Where the defendant vigorously defended a statute, it cannot argue that the plaintiffs' victory in overturing that statute was merely pyrrhic.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/23/2001
• Published 04/23/2001

Judges

• SELYA, Circuit Judge., Before TORRUELLA, Chief Judge, COFFIN, Senior Circuit Judge, and SELYA, Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Russell A. Del Toro, with whom Camelia Fernández-Romeu and Del Toro & Santana were on brief, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Suzanne B. Goldberg, with whom Judith Berkan, Berkan/Mendez, Ruth E. Harlow, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Colleen M. Meenan were on brief, for appellees.