Opinion
Case No. 8:10-cv-594-T-24 TGW.
October 27, 2011
ORDER
This cause comes before the Court on Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs. (Doc. No. 37). Defendants have not filed a response in opposition. As explained below, the motion is granted in part.
I. Background
This is a breach of contract case, in which Plaintiff alleged that Defendant Accend, Inc. defaulted on four notes and Defendant John Collins defaulted on the corresponding guaranty agreements. Plaintiff moved for summary judgment on its claims, and the Court granted the motion. In its summary judgment order, the Court stated that "pursuant to the terms of the notes and guaranties at issue in this case, [Plaintiff] is entitled to be reimbursed by Defendants for . . . reasonable attorneys' fees and costs." (Doc. No. 35). In the instant motion, Plaintiff moves for an award of its attorneys' fees and costs.
II. Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs
Plaintiff seeks an award of $25,805.40 in attorneys' fees and $767.50 in costs. With regard to Plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees, the Court notes that the starting point in determining reasonable attorneys' fees is the lodestar, which is properly calculated by multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation times a reasonable hourly rate. Norman v. Hous. Auth. of City of Montgomery, 836 F.2d 1292, 1299 (11th Cir. 1988) (citation omitted). Furthermore, "[t]he fee applicant bears the burden of establishing entitlement and documenting the appropriate hours and hourly rates." Id. at 1303 (citation omitted).
A reasonable hourly rate is based upon "the prevailing market rate in the relevant legal community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skills, experience, and reputation." Id. at 1299 (citations omitted). An applicant may meet its burden of establishing a reasonably hourly rate by setting forth direct evidence of rates charged under similar circumstances or submitting opinion evidence of reasonable rates.See id. In addition, the Court may use its own expertise and judgment to make an appropriate independent assessment of the reasonable value of an attorney's services. See id. at 1304. In calculating what hours were reasonably expended on litigation, the court should exclude excessive, unnecessary, and redundant hours, and it should also exclude any time spent litigating discrete and unsuccessful claims. See id. at 1301, 1302 (citation omitted).
Plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees is based upon the following attorneys' billing rates and hours expended on this case: (1) Attorney Shwayri worked 25.9 hours on the case, and her hourly billing rate was $280 per hour; (2) Attorney Morelli worked .4 hours on the case, and her hourly billing rate was $170 per hour; and (3) Attorney McLeroy worked 44.1 hours on the case, and her hourly billing rate was $419.17 per hour. Upon review of the amount of time expended by each attorney, the Court finds that the hours billed were reasonable. However, the Court finds that the hourly rates charged by attorneys Shwayri and McLeroy must be reduced, as explained below.
Shwayri is a former law clerk and an associate in her law firm. She has been an attorney for seven years. Her current billing rate is $280 per hour. However, the Court finds that based on its own expertise and judgment, her reasonable hourly rate should be reduced to $250 per hour in order to reflect the prevailing market rate in the relevant legal community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skills, experience, and reputation.
McLeroy is a shareholder in her law firm and has been a practicing attorney for twenty one years. She practices exclusively in the field of commercial litigation. Her current billing rate is $419.17 per hour. However, the Court finds that based on its own expertise and judgment, her reasonable hourly rate should be reduced to $350 per hour, in order to reflect the prevailing market rate in the relevant legal community for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skills, experience, and reputation.
Thus, the Court finds that the amount of attorneys' fees requested should be reduced to $21,978 based on the following hourly rates and hours expended: Attorney Reasonable Hours Reasonably Amount of Attorneys' Hourly Rate Expended Fees to Be Awarded TOTAL 70.4 $21,978
Shwayri $250 25.9 $6,475 Morelli $170 .4 $68 McLeroy $350 44.1 $15,435Plaintiff also seeks $767.50 in costs. This amount consists of the following costs: (1) $200 for service of process, (2) $217.50 for mediation, and (3) $350 for the filing fee. Upon review, the Court finds that all of these costs are reasonable and shall be awarded.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs (Doc. No. 37) is GRANTED TO THE EXTENT THAT Plaintiff is awarded $21,978.00 in attorneys' fees and $767.50 in costs.
DONE AND ORDERED at Tampa, Florida.