S.D. Florida cuts employment fee award, including for clerical work

What happened

The plaintiff in a Title VII employment case sought attorney fees. The court denied fees for work on the defendants' motion to alter the judgment, finding that request unrelated to the fee entitlement. It deducted two thirds of the time spent on one motion because of limited success. It also deducted $835.25 to reflect clerical tasks billed as legal work. The court did not state total fees requested or awarded.

What the court said

the Court will deduct $835.25 from Plaintiff’s requested fee amount to reflect the clerical tasks for which Plaintiff billed.

The court also reduced the award for: unrelated claims, limited success.

Why it matters

The ruling shows that courts will separate clerical tasks from legal work when reviewing time entries and will reduce fees for time spent on unsuccessful or unrelated motions. Even without stating totals, the court itemized a specific deduction tied to how tasks were recorded.

How to keep this out of your fee petition

• Leave purely clerical work off the fee petition.
• Describe paralegal tasks so the substantive work is clear.
• Split mixed entries into their substantive and clerical parts.

Cite this ruling

See hourly rates the S.D. Florida approves and attorney fee motions in Florida 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.