Author Archive

Colorado Court finds that Efficiencies of Scale Should Reduce Attorney Time

Posted On January 12th, 2017 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Erisa Qyra. A reduction to a fee award in a Federal District Court of Colorado’s case, Shabazz v. Pinnacle Credit Services LLC, demonstrates the Court’s concern with excessive attorney’s fees caused by inefficiencies. The Court found that the Plaintiff’s fee request was excessive due to the fact that the litigation, regarding a routine Fair […] Read More...

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Hourly Rates Reduced and Reductions Made by New York Federal Court for Attorney’s Lack of Billing Judgment

Posted On November 11th, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Kristen Sisko In a Title VII retaliation dispute, the Western District of New York Court reduced fees submitted on a fee petition finding that the hourly rates sought by counsel were higher than rates typically allowed in the context of this type of litigation; the fees reflected excessive staffing; counsel did not exercise sufficient […] Read More...

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Southern District of Ohio: An insufficient list of emails results in their exclusion from the fee award

Posted On November 3rd, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Tejan Arora In September, 2014, the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, affirmed a magistrate judge’s recommendation excluding an award for attorney fees in a civil rights case for time expended in drafting and sending over 2,000 emails due to the attorney’s failure to provide adequate time billing records. A further 75% across-the-board reduction […] Read More...

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New York Federal Court reduces fees by 40% for unnecessary and excessive work and vague block billed entries

Posted On October 27th, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Kristen Sisko The Southern District of New York made an aggregate reduction of 40% to a motion for attorneys’ fees, finding that the hours billed by the firm in representing the U.S. Bank National Association, reflected unnecessary and excessive work, contained insufficient details and were block billed. Pursuant to an escrow agreement between the […] Read More...

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Good billing practices can go to waste if the rates charged are too high

Posted On August 4th, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Emily Wilson A New York court has reduced an award of fees by approximately 50% in a commercial tenancy dispute case, Thor 725 8th Avenue summary judgment against the Goonetillekes for $2million after the couple had breached several terms of a contractual guaranty. The Court then reduced Thors’ fee motion of $309,212 for reasons […] Read More...

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From $12 million, to $7 million, to $4 million, to $2.7 million in legal fees: a tale of an 8 year litigation

Posted On July 14th, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Emily Wilson In a landmark copyright infringement case, 14 music recording companies brought action against the file sharing website, MP3tunes and its operator, Michael Robertson, and were awarded in excess of $12 million in damages (after expending the same amount in attorney fees). The companies and their respective publishers sought an award of fees […] Read More...

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A 72% reduction in an attorney fee award demonstrates it costs to have the best representation

Posted On June 24th, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Emily Wilson In a recent New York case, the Beastie Boys, a popular music group, obtained judgment against Monster Energy Company, a beverage manufacturer, for contraventions under the Copyright Act and Lanham Act, for the unauthorized use of their song in a promotional video. The group sought an award of fees in the sum […] Read More...

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Californian fee award slashed by $1million for unreasonable, vague and contentious time entries

Posted On June 10th, 2016 by Legal Fee Advisors

By Emily Wilson. In a case regarding a breach of merger, Banas v Volcano Corporation, Volcano Corporation was successful in obtaining summary judgment against Banas and other shareholders party to the failed merger. Volcano sought attorney fees and costs in excess of $4 million for the work of their attorneys. The fee motion was met […] Read More...

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Trap for the Uninformed Law Firm Client: The Account Stated Doctrine

Posted On July 30th, 2015 by Legal Fee Advisors

Few law firm clients today are aware of the historical doctrine of account stated. Despite this fact, in states where the rule of account stated is applied to the attorney-client relationship, law firms regularly take advantage of the legal tool, often to the surprise and detriment of unsuspecting clients. The doctrine, which has its roots […] Read More...

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The Truth About Legal Fees

Posted On July 8th, 2015 by Legal Fee Advisors

It is no surprise that legal fees can vary in size. When cases regarding exorbitant legal fees reach the courts, it is not uncommon for the courts to reduce the legal fees to a rate prevailing in the community. But what about prestigious law firms? Where do they fall into play? An article from The […] Read More...

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