E.D. Louisiana cuts commercial fee award over vague entries

What happened

Gulf Credit, LLC sought attorney fees under a contract fee clause in its case against DHD Offshore Services, LLC and others. The court declined to strike each of Mr. Dunbar's entries as vague and instead reduced his time by 10%. It applied a further 10% reduction because he billed time for filing documents with the court, an administrative task. It also reduced his hours by 10% as a substitute for billing judgment given block billing. The court did not state totals.

What the court said

This Court finds it appropriate to reduce the award for Mr. Dunbar's time by ten percent, rather than striking each entry on vagueness grounds.

Mr. Dunbar billed time for filing various documents with this Court, which is an administrative task.

Given this difficulty, a ten percent reduction in Mr. Dunbar's hours expended on this matter reflects an appropriate substitute for his billing judgment.

Why it matters

The ruling shows that courts may address vague entries, clerical tasks billed as legal work, and block billing by applying percentage reductions to a timekeeper's hours rather than striking individual entries. It also shows that filing documents may be treated as administrative work, and that block billing can lead to a substitute reduction for billing judgment.

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 E.D. Louisiana approves and attorney fee motions in Louisiana 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.