A Washington state judge ordered the Grocery Manufacturers Association to pay $1.1 million in costs and fees in a campaign finance lawsuit stemming from the state referendum over GMO food labeling in 2013. The trade group previously was fined $18 million for violating state campaign laws, the largest penalty ever.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch said the state’s request for attorney fees was “reasonable and appropriate,” along with its request to be reimbursed for costs. In November 2016, Hirsch ruled that GMA intentionally violated campaign reporting laws. The group was listed as the largest donor to anti-labeling group but the money came from an account set up for its members, said state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
“GMA willfully disregarded Washington state campaign finance laws,” Ferguson said in a statement. “It has been a multi-year effort to hold them accountable.”
http://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-gma-pay-11m-costs-fees-historic-campaign-finance-case