NC court: Schools have no right to attorney fees

RALEIGH -- North Carolina's second-highest court has ruled that poor schools suing the state over education quality have no right to seek payment of their attorney fees. The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a lower court judge correctly denied payment of attorney fees to the five counties. The lawsuit originally was filed in 1994 and a lower court judge has ordered the state to improve education quality in counties that lack sufficient funds for enhanced programs. Lawyer fees have totaled about $2.5 million. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)