Opinion
1: 07-CV-0611 AWI DLB
09-09-2011
JAMES SANFORD POBURSKY and WANDA POBURSKY, Plaintiffs, v. MADERA COUNTY, et al., Defendants
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS'
MOTION FOR THE COURT TO
REVIEW DEFENDANTS' BILL OF
COSTS
(Document #234)
On December 13, 2010, the court adopted the Magistrate Judge's October 4, 2010 Findings and Recommendations, granted Defendants' motion for involuntary dismissal, and dismissed this action with prejudice. The Clerk of the Court entered Judgment the same day. On December 21, 2010, Defendant submitted a Bill of Costs. On January 21, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a motion for the court to review Defendants' Bill of Costs.
Rule 54(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows costs, other than attorneys' fees, to the prevailing party as a matter of course unless the court otherwise directs. However, Local Rule 292 provides a very specific procedure for how a party may file a bill of costs, how a party may file objections, who taxes and enters costs, and how the court can review the taxing of costs.
Local Rule 292 reads in part:
(b) Filing of Cost Bill. Within fourteen (14) days after entry of judgment or order under which costs may be claimed, the prevailing party may serve on all other parties and file with the Clerk a bill of costs conforming to 28 U.S.C. § 1924. The cost bill shall itemize the costs claimed and shall be supported by a memorandum of costs and an affidavit of counsel that the costs claimed are allowable by law, are correctly stated, and were necessarily incurred. Cost bill forms shall be made available by the Clerk's Office upon request or on the Court's website.
(c) Objections. The party against whom costs are claimed may, within seven (7) days from date of service, file specific objections to claimed items with a statement of grounds for objection.
(d) Taxing Costs. If no objection is filed, the Clerk shall proceed to tax and enter costs. If objections are filed, they should state specific objections to claimed items with a statement of grounds thereof. The Clerk may require and consider further affidavits as necessary to determine allowable costs. The parties may request a hearing, in person or by telephone conference call, and the Clerk shall schedule the hearing as needed. Upon the taxation and entry of costs the Clerk shall serve notice thereof to all parties.
(e) Review. On motion filed and served within seven (7) days after notice of the taxing of costs has been served, the action of the Clerk may be reviewed by the Court as provided in Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d). See L.R. 230.
In this action, Plaintiffs filed their request for the court to review Defendants' Bill of Costs prior to the Clerk of the Court taxing costs. In fact, the Clerk of the Court has never taxed costs is this action. As such, any request for the court to review the Bill of Costs or the taxing of costs is premature.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs' motion for the court to review Defendants' Bill of Costs is DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED.
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CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE