Louisiana must pay legal fees back to the ESA stemming from a defunct gaming bill.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana is forcing the state of Louisiana to pay $91,000 for legal fees that the game industry trade group incurred while attempting to overturn a controversial gaming bill.
HB 1381, drafted with the assistance of Jack Thomson, was first passed in June 2006. The bill would have forced employees who were caught selling games to minors to pay fines ranging from $100 up to $2,000, along with a possible prison sentence up to one year.
“This court is dumbfounded that the Attorney General and the State are in the position of having to pay taxpayer money as attorney’s fees and costs in this lawsuit,” said Honorable James Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana.
