Opinion
Case No. 08-00078.
August 26, 2008
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER RE APPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION
The debtor's counsel, Lara J. Margulies, has filed an application for compensation seeking entry of an order approving total compensation of $4,500, reduced by $1,500 received already, for a net administrative claim of $3,000. Counsel's statement under Rule 2016(b) stated:
Fees based on hourly rate of $300.00, Counsel will file fee application.
The application, however, fails to include any statement of time spent on this case by the debtor's counsel. As of the date of the filing of the application, this case appears principally to have entailed filing papers required by Rule 1007, attending the meeting of creditors, and filing papers that led to confirmation of a plan (without the necessity of appearing at a confirmation hearing). Moreover, the Rule 2016(b) statement excludes from the fees stated representation in any contested matter or adversary proceeding. Total fees of $4,500.00 appears excessive for principally filing Rule 1007 papers, attending the meeting of creditors, and getting a plan to confirmation without a hearing. It is accordingly
The Rule 2016(b) statement fails to explain how total fees in the case can be stated to be $4,500, yet fees are to be based on an hourly rate of $300. The court can only guess that $4,500 was an estimate of what the hourly fees might total, but the statement ought to have made that clear.
ORDERED that by September 22, 2008, the debtor's counsel shall supplement her fee application with time entries to demonstrate the propriety of awarding the fees sought.