W.D. Texas cuts intellectual property fee award 40% over vague entries

What happened

Google sought $100,285.47 in attorney fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285 in CTD Networks, LLC v. Google, LLC. Judge Xavier Rodriguez awarded $60,171.28, a reduction of $40,114.19 or 40.0%. The court found that the declarations did not allow it to review the particular tasks performed by each attorney to assess the reasonableness of any one attorney's time, and therefore reduced the requested fee award by 40% across the board.

What the court said

the declarations provided do not allow the Court to review the particular tasks performed by each attorney to properly assess the reasonableness of any one attorney's time, the Court finds it appropriate to reduce Google's requested fee award by 40% across the board.

Why it matters

The ruling shows that a fee applicant must provide time records specific enough for the court to evaluate the tasks performed by each attorney. When entries are too vague to permit that review, the court may apply a broad percentage reduction to the entire fee request rather than attempt a line-by-line analysis.

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 W.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.