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Hall v. St. John Missionary Baptist Church

United States District Court, E.D. Arkansas, Western Division
Apr 13, 2010
4:08CV00645-WRW (E.D. Ark. Apr. 13, 2010)

Opinion

4:08CV00645-WRW.

April 13, 2010


ORDER


Pending is Defendant's Motion for Costs (Doc. No. 58). Plaintiff has responded.

Doc. No. 60.

Plaintiff sued Defendant for employment discrimination, outrage, and other claims. Defendant prevailed on all counts. In its Motion for Costs, Defendant asks for $446.60 for the transcript of Plaintiff's deposition, as well as a little over $200 for witness fees and mileage, for a total of $655.15.

Doc. No. 58.

Under Rule 54(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, costs other than attorneys fees "should be allowed to the prevailing party." The losing party has the "burden of overcoming the presumption that the prevailing party is entitled to costs, meaning that the losing party must `suggest a rationale under which the district court's actions constitute an abuse of discretion.'" Even if a deposition was not used at trial, a district court has discretion to award costs in connection with the deposition if it was necessary for use in the case, and not just "purely investigative." A judge may tax as costs "fees and disbursements for . . . witnesses." Witnesses are generally allowed to receive a per diem amount, and reimbursement of mileage.

186th Dodge, LP v. Rave Reviews Cinemas, 501 F.3d 945, 958 (8th Cir. 2007) (quoting Janis v. Biesheuvel, 428 F.3d 795, 801 (8th Cir. 2005)).

Slagenweit v. Slagenweit, 63 F.3d 719, 721 (8th Cir. 1995).

Plaintiff's deposition was necessary in this case. I relied on deposition testimony in deciding Plaintiff's outrage claim. Accordingly, awarding costs connected with the deposition is appropriate.

In connection with witness fees and mileage, Defendant asks for: "Witness fee and mileage for Darryle Hinton (subpoena) 53.23; Witness fee and mileage for Rudolph Howard (subpoena) 52.93; Witness fee and mileage for Friendly Womack (subpoena) 54.44; Witness fee and mileage for Gary Noble (subpoena) 47.95."

Doc. No. 58.

Each of these witnesses testified at trial on March 17, 2010. Defendant, however, did not provide any documentation with respect to mileage. Accordingly, I will not award mileage — I will award only $40 per witness as an attendance fee for a total of $160.00.

Doc. No. 54.

The sum of costs in connection with Plaintiff's deposition ($446.60) plus witness attendance fees ($160.00) is $606.60. Defendant's Motion for Costs is GRANTED for costs in the amount of $606.60.

IT IS SO ORDERED


Summaries of

Hall v. St. John Missionary Baptist Church

United States District Court, E.D. Arkansas, Western Division
Apr 13, 2010
4:08CV00645-WRW (E.D. Ark. Apr. 13, 2010)
Case details for

Hall v. St. John Missionary Baptist Church

Case Details

Full title:SONYA HALL PLAINTIFF v. ST. JOHN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH DEFENDANT

Court:United States District Court, E.D. Arkansas, Western Division

Date published: Apr 13, 2010

Citations

4:08CV00645-WRW (E.D. Ark. Apr. 13, 2010)

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