A Florida federal judge has been challenged in an appeal to a ruling awarding attorney fees for a lawsuit that has garnered national attention, setting the scene for a higher court to reevaluate the criteria for awarding legal fees to victorious parties in legal disputes.

In his 35-page court ruling, Chief U.S. Northern District Judge Mark Eaton Walker awarded attorneys with Debevoise & Plimpton and law firm Donnelly + Gross $372,219 in total fees.