A former Smith Gambrell & Russell lawyer has been ordered to pay attorney fees relating to 10 motions that a magistrate judge said were “so lacking in merit” that their only effect was to extend litigation.

Joseph Pastore III, now an attorney at a Connecticut law firm, was sanctioned for bringing several motions on behalf of Nova Group Inc., an employee benefit plan trustee facing a $30.2 million judgment awarded to Universitas Education Inc.