Slarskey LLC Secures More than $400,000 in Attorneys’ Fees for Discovery Misconduct

August 27, 2025

Slarskey LLC has secured an award of nearly $420,000 in attorneys’ fees on behalf of its client, Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation (KIC). The award arises from discovery misconduct in ongoing litigation in which KIC asserts claims of legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and unfair trade practices against a large international law firm and one of its former senior partners.

KIC, an Alaska Native Corporation, is pursuing this case to hold its former counsel accountable for substantial harm the counsel caused to KIC. Discovery has been fiercely contested, and Slarskey LLC’s litigation team has obtained multiple court rulings detailing Defendants’ discovery abuses and bad faith. The latest sanctions award reflects both the seriousness of those violations and the persistence of KIC’s legal team in enforcing KIC’s rights.

For clients, an attorneys' fee award is more than just a legal victory. It is a recognition by the Court that the other side engaged in misconduct and that the costs of fighting that misconduct should not fall on the client.  An award shifts a significant portion of the burden back to the opposing party, protecting a client's resources and strengthening its position as the litigation continues.

“This award is a powerful statement that our client should not bear the costs of an opponent’s obstruction,” said partner David Slarskey. “For any company facing a discovery fight with a large, global adversary, this result shows that our firm has the skill and persistence to not only win those battles, but to make sure the client is compensated for the fight.”

The Slarskey LLC team—attorneys David Slarskey, Adam Hollander, Elena Roberts, Luc Pierre-Louis and paralegal Ann Quintero—leveraged the firm’s boutique model to move quickly, coordinate seamlessly, and respond forcefully in real time to the other side’s tactics.

“Large firms often try to overwhelm smaller adversaries with delay, obstruction, or needless expense,” said partner Adam Hollander. “This ruling shows that our approach—lean, agile, and relentlessly focused on client outcomes—can level the playing field and turn the tables.”

The fee award marks a significant milestone in KIC’s pursuit of accountability in the ongoing litigation, which is scheduled to go to trial in February of 2026.