E.D. Louisiana cuts employment fee award 13.1%, including for block billing

What happened

The fee applicant in a Title VII employment case requested $158,925 for 427.5 hours. The court awarded $138,101.25 for 371.47 hours, a reduction of $20,823.75. It excluded 6.5 hours billed on an invoice that did not appear to be for this case, 18.1 hours for unrelated claims, 18.5 of 43.3 disputed hours as excessive, and 7.5 hours for a pleading never filed. It also reduced 60.5 hours containing block billed entries by 25% to 45.37 hours.

What the court said

the total hours billed containing block billed entries is 60.5 hours will be reduced by 25% or to 45.37 hours.

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

Why it matters

The ruling shows that block billing can draw a percentage cut even when the court otherwise reviews hours line by line. It also shows courts will exclude entries tied to other matters or to work the docket does not support, so the time records must match the case and the record.

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 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.