Judge authorizes Delta to pay $29.4M to lawyers

ATLANTA (AP) — A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge authorized Delta Air Lines Inc. on Thursday to pay its lawyers, consultants and advisers $29.4 million for fees and expenses incurred over a four-month period.

The compensation period covers professional services performed for the Atlanta-based company in its bankruptcy case by 24 different firms from Oct. 1, 2006, to Jan. 31.

Judge Adlai Hardin said in his order that some of the money has already been paid and that the rest was held back. He said Delta can now pay the remaining authorized balance to each firm.

The largest fee awarded for the four-month period was more than $8 million to Delta's chief bankruptcy law firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell.