Prevailing Parties Only Entitled to Fees Reasonably Incurred: Beware the Duplication of Efforts
Last fall I served as an expert in a case which analyzed the loadstar claimed by the prevailing parties in City of Los Angeles v. County of Kern, Case No. CV 06-5094 GAF (VBKx) (September 3, 2008). The written opinion by U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess has been cited as "must reading" on the methodology that can be used by a federal district judge to reduce the lodestar in civil rights cases. See California Attorneys' Fees website. The decision illustrates more than a few pitfalls which should be avoided by litigation counsel, particularly when there are multiple lawfirms billing to the file and the duplication of efforts that can result therefrom. The decision also outlines an approach which can be utilized by anyone interested in how best to evaluate the reasonableness of attorney invoices before paying. To read the full decision, click here, or click on the column to the left under "Links."
