A judge has ordered the city of Tucson to pay the National Rifle Association's legal fees from a lawsuit that scuttled the city's gun show restrictions.

The NRA backed a lawsuit filed by promoter Pat McMann challenging a city policy requiring background checks for all private firearms sales at Tucson Convention Center gun shows. Superior Court Judge Stephen Villarreal overturned that policy in May, ruling that it violated a state law pre-empting local gun restrictions.

The city has appealed Villarreal's ruling. But Superior Court Judge John M. Quigley, who took over the case from Villarreal, ruled Friday that the city owes the plaintiffs $22,375.32 in attorneys' fees.

Quigley cited a law that says fees should be awarded when a claim or defense "constitutes harassment, is groundless and is not made in good faith."

"It's unfortunate that the mayor and council chose to force Tucson taxpayers into footing this bill when the inevitable outcome of this case was so obvious," said Todd Rathner, a Tucson resident who serves on the NRA's board of directors.

City Attorney Michael House said the award could be overturned if the city wins its appeal.

* Contact Joe Salkowski at 573-4243 or at joes@azstarnet.com.

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