$915K attorney bill disputed in Topeka police lawsuit

TOPEKA (KSNT) - After winning their gender discrimination case against the Topeka Police Department, two police administrators are asking the city to pay nearly $1 million in attorneys' fees.

Colleen Stuart, Jana Harden and Jennifer Cross sued the City of Topeka and then Police Chief Bryan Wheeles in January 2023. The women accused the city of failing to promote them based on their sex. They claimed the city and Wheeles had a history of not promoting qualified female officers in the police department.

The plaintiffs asked for damages amounting to $1.5 million, including future lost wages, benefits and emotional distress. In September 2024, a federal jury ruled in favor of Stuart and Harden, awarding Stuart more than $237,000 and Harden more than $211,000 in back pay and damages.

A U.S. District judge had previously dismissed Cross' claims. She has since filed a second lawsuit against the city.

Because the successful jury verdict was obtained under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the plaintiffs claim the court should award them attorney fees.

The plaintiffs' attorneys said they expended just under 1,400 billed hours on the case. With the four attorneys each charging between $450 and $850 an hour for their work, they're asking for a total fee of just over $915,000.

According to court documents filed this week, the plaintiffs began to communicate with the defense in early October to settle the issue of attorneys' fees and costs. On Nov. 7, the date of plaintiffs' deadline to file a motion to recover attorney fees, the parties spoke again by phone to resolve the issue. However, they failed to reach an agreement.

Counsel for both parties will continue to communicate to see if an agreement can be reached. 27 News reached out to the City of Topeka for comment but had not heard back by the time this report was filed.