E.D. New York cuts fee award 35%, including for vague entries | LegalTime AI

E.D. New York cuts fee award 35%, including for vague entries

IME WatchDog, Inc. v. Gelardi et al, No. 1:22-cv-01032. District Court, E.D. New York, Judge Pamela K. Chen. Decided . Read the opinion

Requested
$72,802.50
Awarded
$47,321.63
Cut
35%$25,480.87

Fee applicant's counsel: Milman Labuda Law Group

What happened

Milman Labuda Law Group sought $72,802.50 in attorney fees. The court awarded $47,321.63, a reduction of $25,480.87 or 35%. It cut the total fee by 30% because the fee request included work on unrelated claims. It further cut the total fee by 5% because of redacted entries that the court found vague. The figures do not include costs.

What the court said

Vague entries · 5% reduction
The Court further reduces Plaintiff’s attorneys’ fee award by 5% because of these redacted entries.

The court also reduced the award for: unrelated claims.

Why it matters

The ruling shows that courts will reduce a fee award when time records do not clearly describe the work performed, and that vague or redacted entries can draw a separate percentage cut even after other reductions.

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

IME WatchDog, Inc. v. Gelardi, No. 1:22-cv-01032 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2024)

See hourly rates the E.D. New York approves and attorney fee motions in New York 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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