S.D. Texas cuts commercial fee award 39.8%, including for vague entries

What happened

Saltgrass, Inc. sought $63,789.50 in appellate attorneys' fees under a contract fee clause in 20100 Eastex, LLC v. Saltgrass, Inc. The magistrate judge recommended awarding $38,410.50, a reduction of $25,379.00 or 39.8%, and the figures do not include costs. The court excluded 27.7 hours ($18,822.50) for time on matters unrelated to appellate fees and rejected 6.5 hours ($4,562.50) for work on the fee motion itself. It also reduced entries it viewed as duplicative, vague, and excessive.

What the court said

I have reduced those time entries I view as duplicative, vague, and excessive.

The court also reduced the award for: unrelated claims, fees on fees, duplicative staffing, excessive hours.

Why it matters

The ruling shows that a fee applicant must tie each time entry to the fee-generating work and that courts will trim entries lacking detail or reflecting overlapping staffing, even where the total reduction is not itemized by category.

How to keep this out of your fee petition

• Name the task, the document or person involved, and the purpose.
• Avoid stock phrases that could describe any day in any matter.
• Keep privileged detail general, but specific enough to show the work.

Cite this ruling

See hourly rates the S.D. Texas approves and attorney fee motions in Texas federal courts.

Figures and quotes are taken from the opinion and checked against its text. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.