Jonathan AmbarianHELENA (KPAX) - A state district court judge in Helena has awarded almost $3 million in attorney fees to the plaintiffs in the Held v. Montana climate change lawsuit. She said the importance of the policies at issue, the state’s approval of unconstitutional laws and the number of people affected by the case justified awarding attorney fees to the plaintiffs. She awarded $2.8 million in attorney fees and almost $100,000 in additional costs. The Montana Department of Justice defended the state in the Held case. Ten of the 16 plaintiffs in the Held case are now involved with the Lighthiser case, a similar lawsuit – this time in federal court – that seeks to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at boosting fossil fuel production.