D. New Jersey cuts civil rights fee award 70.3%, including for block billing

What happened

The fee applicant sought $100,276.25 in sanctions fees for 224.65 hours. The court awarded $29,750. It lowered the overall hourly rate by including a paralegal in the blended rate, deducted 59.45 hours valued at $29,725 for block billing combined with vague task descriptions, reduced billed hours on one matter from 28.54 to 14.00, and cut total hours on the motion to 70.

What the court said

Consequently, the Court will deduct 59.45 hours valued at $29,725 from the award.

the block billing, combined with the excessively vague descriptions of the tasks performed, leaves the Court guessing not only how much time counsel may have expended on each particular task

The court also reduced the award for: hourly rate reduced, excessive hours, excessive hours.

Why it matters

The ruling shows that block billing and vague entries can cost a fee applicant a large share of requested hours, and that courts will trim hours they find excessive even when the rate itself is adjusted.

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

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