Aisenberg award will be appealed

TAMPA -- Federal prosecutors filed notice Friday that they will appeal a judge's decision to award Steve and Marlene Aisenberg $2.9-million in legal fees and to release all the normally secret grand jury transcripts in the case.

Federal prosecutors have until March 17 to ultimately decide whether to appeal the monetary award or the release of the transcripts or both, a U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman said. "This is simply a notice that we intend to appeal," spokesman Steve Cole said. "We are weighing the options, along with the Department of Justice, about what parts of the order will be appealed."

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could affirm U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday's decision or overturn it, in part or in whole. It could take many months for the appellate court to decide the case.

The case began in November 1997, when the Aisenbergs' 5-month-old daughter, Sabrina, vanished. Later, the Aisenbergs were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and making false statements, but the case crumbled.

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