A New York court has fined Royal Dutch Shell PLC's lawyers $5,000 each after it ruled they had broken legal rules when alleging their colleagues had knowingly let Nigerian witnesses lie... In a previous statement, lawyers with Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP, which represent Shell in the case, said "there can be no doubt that the [plaintiffs'] witnesses are giving testimony that (their) counsel know to be false." But the judge ruled that "was no basis (for) the claim." The rare decision also is directed to reimburse plaintiffs counsel for one-third of the attorneys fees relating to the improper allegations.