D. Arizona cuts intellectual property fee award 53.7%, including for block billing
BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Central Coast Agriculture Incorporated, No. 2:19-cv-05216. District Court, D. Arizona, Judge Michael T Liburdi. Decided . Read the opinion
- Requested
- $5,526,987.50
- Awarded
- $2,559,745.61
- Cut
- 53.7%$2,967,241.89
Intellectual property · Fee applicant's counsel: Goodwin Procter LLP
What happened
BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP, represented by Goodwin Procter LLP, sought $5,526,987.50 in attorney fees in this intellectual property case. Judge Michael T Liburdi awarded $2,559,745.61, a reduction of $2,967,241.89 or 53.7%. The court found that the opposing party's requested rates exceeded those reasonable for the forum and reduced the hourly rate. The court also applied a 3% reduction to the total fee for block billing. The figures do not include costs.
What the court said
The Court finds a 3% reduction appropriate.
The court also reduced the award for: hourly rate reduced.
Why it matters
The ruling shows that courts will adjust hourly rates to forum norms and impose a separate percentage cut when time entries are block billed, even where block billing is only one of several issues affecting the fee request.
How to keep this out of your fee petition
- Record one task per entry, each with its own time.
- Write the entry when the work happens, not at the end of the week.
- If a task really is one unit of work, say what it was and what it produced.
Cite this ruling
BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Central Coast Agriculture Incorporated, No. 2:19-cv-05216 (D. Ariz. Aug. 20, 2026) See hourly rates the D. Arizona approves and attorney fee motions in Arizona 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.
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