3 Law Firms Get Paid By Minn. In Mapmaking Case

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Three Minnesota law firms have each received $118,600 checks from the state related to a lawsuit that led to new political maps.

The legal fees were distributed Friday and stem from a court order in the once-per-decade redistricting. The Legislature authorized the Minnesota Secretary of State's office to pay the combined $355,000.

The money went to Briggs and Morgan, which represented Republicans; Frederickson and Byron, the firm for the state Democratic Party; and Weinblatt and Gaylord, which also had Democratic clients.

Payments were capped at $115,000 but each also got interest that accrued since the prior summer's court order. That ruling offered less than half of the requested fees.

The Minnesota Supreme Court took over redistricting after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed maps approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2011.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)