Judge awards $45K in legal fees, damages to six protesters cited at Capitol in 2011

MADISON -- A judge has awarded nearly $45,000 in legal fees and damages to six protesters issued citations during demonstrations at the Wisconsin State Capitol four years ago.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports Dane County Judge Frank Remington on Tuesday awarded compensation for attorney fees as well as awards for loss of liberty, emotional distress and damage to reputation.

The six protesters were issued citations while protesting Republican Governor Scott Walker's 2011 legislation that effectively ended collective bargaining rights of most public employees. All of their citations were dismissed within six weeks.

The plaintiffs filed a civil rights lawsuit against several individuals within the Wisconsin Department of Administration.