Judge Awards Fees to Woman Who Said Shell Delayed Witness Designation

DES MOINES, Iowa - An Iowa court has awarded a plaintiff $1,500 in attorney fees after it found that Shell Oil was slow in designating a witness to testify about the sale and/or distribution of chemicals and solvents to a Bridgestone/Firestone plant. Mielke, et al. v. Ashland Inc., et al. No. 4:05-cv-00088 (S.D. Iowa).

On Aug. 30, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa granted Margaret J. Mielke's attorney fees incurred in her preparation of a motion to compel. The court had granted Mielke's previous motion to compel Shell Oil deponents to testify, but denied her current …