E.D. Missouri cuts sanctions fee award 58.6%, including for vague entries

What happened

The fee applicant sought $209,697 in sanctions fees for 650.7 hours. The court subtracted $60,079.50 billed for a different case and $25,475.50 for unrelated claims, then applied a 30% discount because some entries were vague, duplicative, or did not describe the work, and because ten attorneys staffed the matter. The court awarded $86,899.75, a reduction of $122,797.25.

What the court said

The Court will further discount GWCC’s attorneys’ fees by 30 percent based on the fact that some of the billing entries were vague, duplicative, or did not sufficiently describe the work that was done

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

Why it matters

The ruling shows that a fee petition can lose a large share of its value when time entries do not describe the work and when staffing is not matched to the task. Courts will separate hours spent on other matters and then apply a percentage cut across the remaining request.

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. Missouri approves and attorney fee motions in Missouri 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.