Opinion
00 C 50227
August 20, 2002
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On July 29, 2002, defendant, Edward Diedrich filed his bill of costs in the total amount of $810.70. Plaintiff, Thomas Eckmann, independent administrator of the estate of Jeanne Eckmann, deceased filed objections on August 2, 2002. On August 15, 2002, defendant filed a response to the objection partially answering the objections.
Defendant sought $651.30 in deposition costs. Initially, defendant did not provide any documentation to support these charges or identify the depositions for which they were seeking recovery. Plaintiff raised this lack of documentation in his objection. Subsequently, defendant provided invoices from court reporters indicating the charges were for a transcript and copy of the deposition of Jeanne Marie Eckmann in the amount of $391.30 and for the deposition of M. Paige Neils in the amount of $261.00. Fees for deposition transcripts and one copy may be awarded as costs. See 28 U.S.C. § 1920(2); Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(d). Both these depositions were necessarily obtained for use in the case, however, the charges exceed the Judicial Conference copy rate of $3.00 per page for an original transcript and $.75 per page for the first copy. See Cengr v. Fusibond Piping Sys., Inc., 135 F.3d 445, 455 (7th Cir. 1998); LR 54.1(b). Eckmann's deposition was 71 pages. $213.00 is allowable for the original transcript and $53.25 for the copy. Neils deposition was 35 pages. $105.00 is allowable for the original transcript. No copies of this deposition are indicated in the invoice.
Defendant also seeks $20.00 in subpoena fees and copying costs of $139.40. However, defendant supplies no documentation to support these costs and they are denied.
Plaintiffs objection to defendant's bill of costs is granted in part and denied in part. The bill of costs is reduced by $439.45. Defendant's bill of costs is awarded in the amount of $371.25.