More O'Sullivan bills arrive in bankruptcy court

A judge will have to decide whether to pay a p.r. firm for reading The Turner Report, according to documents filed this week in the O'Sullivan Industries bankruptcy in Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
The report wasn't mentioned by name, but part of the bill submitted by public relations consultant Edward Howard shows that the company is asking to be paid for reviewing "blog coverage" as well as other media coverage of the bankruptcy.
The Nov. 9 billing included "discussing clients' need to keep up flow of positive news and communication." The company has certainly succeeded in that regard. (sarcasm alert)
As you recall, the Turner Report earlier noted that the judge approved paying the public relations firm, which had already been paid a $50,000 retainer.
Court documents indicate the judge granted permission to hire Howard, whose "professional fees for the services provided would be between $80 per hour and $420 per hour, depending on the staff member assigned to the project."
And that's not all. "The debtors would be billed for necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with such services." Of course, those rates may go even higher, the documents said. "Edward Howard's rates are generally revised periodically and would be billed as necessitated by its computer software billing program."
Just in case any legal problems arise out of the Howard firm's representation of O'Sullivan Industries, the company would also be required to pay its legal costs, the documents indicate.
The company's bill through Nov. 30 was $16,148.76, far less than two other bills which were submitted Tuesday for the court's approval.
The law firm of Lamberth, Cifelli, Stokes and Stout, submitted a bill for $51,356.17, while another law firm aiding O'Sullivan through the bankruptcy, Dechert LLP, submitted a bill for $251,893.77 for Nov. 1-30, following a bill for October for $199,328.38.