By: Bonnie Eslinger
Paul Thaler spoke with Law360 regarding Sierra Leone’s efforts to dismiss Jenner & Block LLP’s $8.1 million lawsuit.
Jenner & Block claim that Sierra Leone still owes $8.1 million for “out of scope” work that the republic agreed to pay for and was “unanticipated.” However, Sierra Leone claims it paid the millions required under the flat-fee agreement and that the District of Columbia has no jurisdiction over claims outside the contract due to the republic’s sovereign immunity.
Paul, as representation for Sierra Leone, stated “The Republic of Sierra Leone paid in full what was owed pursuant to the terms of the parties’ retainer agreement. No proper modification was ever effectuated. Nothing more is owed to the law firm and we have asked the court to dismiss accordingly.”
Firm attorneys Casey McKinnon and Jackson Nichols are also mentioned in regard to their representation of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone is asking to dismiss Jenner & Block LLP’s lawsuit seeking $8.1 million in disputed legal fees, saying it paid the millions required under a flat-fee agreement and the District of Columbia federal court doesn’t have jurisdiction over claims outside the contract because of the West African nation’s sovereign immunity.
The motion to dismiss filed Monday said the suit over Jenner & Block’s representation of Sierra Leone in a multiforum dispute with metal trading giant Gerald International Ltd. seeks more money than was agreed upon by the parties.