• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

Supporters of Arkansas Marriage Equality Attorney Cheryl Maples Say Judge Stiffed Her on Fees

Andy Towle October 18, 2015 Leave a Comment

Cheryl Maples

Supporters of Arkansas attorney Cheryl Maples have launched an Indiegogo campaign after Circuit Judge Chris Piazza awarded her what they say is an inadequate sum for the work she did representing more than three dozen plaintiffs over three years in the state’s marriage equality case.

The Arkansas Times reports:

[Piazza] awarded $30,000 in fees and $3,000 expenses each to the Wagoner Law Firm and Cheryl Maples. They had sought much more — Maples at least $345,000 and Wagoner at least $95,748, though both had also asked for enhancements to normal fees that are allowed at times for meritorious civil rights claims.

Maples filed the state suit and Wagoner joined her not long after the case was filed. He also filed a separate lawsuit in federal court, which also produced a decision striking down the ban. A fee request is pending in that case as well.

Wagoner and Maples have become adversaries in the fee proceeding. The state and Wagoner questioned the amount of Maples’ billing, saying it was excessive. Maples has said Wagoner was unhappy because some of the plaintiffs in the state case fired him as their attorney.

Piazza joked that he needed Maalox to read all the pleadings, but took no new evidence at the hearing. He said the lawyers had done an immense amount of work on the case, but he thought the fees they’d sought were too much.

Maples reportedly wept after the proceedings:

“I devoted over three years of my life almost full time, and I thought it was worth more than that. So I’m disappointed. I could have done better at McDonald’s, slinging hamburgers, for less than $15,000 a year…I went through our savings. My husband is retired, and we lived off of our savings….I was so proud, and I’m still proud. [But it’s not right to be financially ruined] when there’s a federal statute that says there’s got to be a good reason not to award a fair attorney fee. There’s got to be a reason.”

Write supporters on her Indiegogo page, which has collected approximately $2,300 so far:

Cheryl Maples represented over 40 plaintiffs in the marriage-equality case in Arkansas for approximately 3 years.  She used her life savings pursuing this passionate response to help level the playing field for the LGBT community of Arkansas.  On October 14th at around 10am she sat in her wheelchair in Judge Piazza’s courtroom, the initial judge who issued the same-sex ruling in Arkansas, hoping to be reimbursed for her fees.  She was not allowed to talk or present her case as Judge Piazza had determined, in his words, that her fees were “exorbitant” and he ruled that she should only receive $33,000 for the 3 years of work and representation of over 40 people. In breaking down the order it works out to between $4-$5 per billable hour for 3 years of work.  Cheryl sat in her car after being helped from her wheelchair and wept.  Only one person from the LGBT community was present, along with her daughter, the only plaintiff present, and she said, “I have no regrets.”  It’s now time for us to stand by Cheryl as she has with us.

Topics: Uncategorized More Posts About: Arkansas, Cheryl Maples, gay marriage

Related Posts
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Survivor Benefits Payments For Same-Sex Partners Are Being Paid Under Biden, But Many Don’t Even Know They Qualify
  • Jim Obergefell, Plaintiff In The Supreme Court Case That Won National Marriage Equality, is Running For Ohio State House
  • Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page has shared his new passport photograph. The ‘Umbrella Academy’ actor – who announced he was transgender in 2020 – took to Instagram to share his updated passport picture and …Read More »
  • Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele gave a fan VIP access to her concert, in exchange for borrowing their Pride flag. The 34-year-old star draped herself in a rainbow flag at her concert at British Summer …Read More »
  • Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

    Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

    Published by OK Magazine mega She got it from her mama! Lourdes Leon never fails to wow her followers with the sultriest of snaps on social media. The ultra famous daughter of Madonna knows how to …Read More »
  • Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

    Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

    Published by DPA Media experts have warned that unhealthy body images on social media can be particularly dangerous for younger users, who are discovering their own bodies and are often dissatisfied with their looks. Benjamin Nolte/dpa …Read More »
Previous Post: « Jeb Bush Comes for Donald Trump, Defends George W. Bush on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ – WATCH
Next Post: Weekend News Brief: Drones, Derek Theler, Ermahgerd Girl, Bruce Springsteen, Robin Byrd »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling Skate Through A Day Of Filming ‘Barbie’ In Venice Beach: Photos

    Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling Skate Through A Day Of Filming ‘Barbie’ In Venice Beach: Photos

  • Six killed in shooting during US July 4 parade

    Six killed in shooting during US July 4 parade

  • US drought exposes murky mob past of Las Vegas

    US drought exposes murky mob past of Las Vegas

RSS Partner Links

  • Elle Macpherson Brings Son Flynn Busson, 24, to Dior Fashion Show in Paris (Photos)
  • Chris Rock & Lake Bell Are Seemingly a New Couple, Spotted on Multiple Dates!
  • The Telegraph: The Sussexes skipped the flyover at Trooping the Colour, gasp
  • “Have a happy and safe Independence Day” links
  • Jennifer Lawrence & Husband Cooke Maroney Spotted Getting a Food Truck Meal During Holiday Weekend
  • Mass Shooting In Highland Park, Illinois
  • Joey Chestnut Puts Protestor in Chokehold During Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Still Wins! (Video)

Most Recent

  • Ohio city Akron imposes curfew after protests over police killing of Black man

    Ohio city Akron imposes curfew after protests over police killing of Black man

  • Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

  • Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

  • Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

    Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

  • Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

    Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

  • Can I get monkeypox from a contaminated surface? Possibly, says study

    Can I get monkeypox from a contaminated surface? Possibly, says study

  • Pope defrocks retired German priest after drawn out proceedings

    Pope defrocks retired German priest after drawn out proceedings

  • Lebanese civil society groups condemn anti-LGBT crackdown

    Lebanese civil society groups condemn anti-LGBT crackdown

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in