S.D. Florida cuts commercial fee award, including for clerical work
Med-Stop, Inc. v. Vandutch, Inc. et al, No. 1:23-cv-21875. District Court, S.D. Florida, Judge Lisette M. Reid. Decided . Read the opinion
The court applied the reductions below but did not state requested and awarded totals we could check against the opinion, so no overall percentage is shown.
Commercial · Fee applicant's counsel: Josef Timlichman Law PLLC
What happened
Josef Timlichman Law PLLC sought fees in a commercial case. The court reduced Attorney Timlichman's fees by 30% for a combination of non-compensable clerical work, block billing and vague entries, and reduced Paralegal Merrill's fees by 6% for clerical work. It also cut nine hours spent preparing the fee motion and twelve hours spent drafting a motion to compel, and reduced Attorney Altschul's total fee by 15% for block billing and excessive hours. The court did not state totals.
What the court said
These entries collectively show a combination of non-compensable clerical work and block billing that require a fee reduction. The Undersigned finds that a 30% fee reduction for Attorney Timlichman is warranted
These entries collectively show a combination of non-compensable clerical work and block billing that require a fee reduction. The Undersigned finds that a 30% fee reduction for Attorney Timlichman is warranted
These entries collectively show a combination of non-compensable clerical work and block billing that require a fee reduction. The Undersigned finds that a 30% fee reduction for Attorney Timlichman is warranted
Accordingly, the Undersigned finds that a modest 6% fee reduction for Paralegal Merrill is appropriate.
the Court finds that a minimal 15% fee reduction for the total fee requested by Attorney Altschul is warranted given evidence of block billing and excessive hours.
The court also reduced the award for: travel time, fees on fees, unrelated claims, excessive hours.
Why it matters
The ruling shows that courts will reduce a timekeeper's fees when entries mix clerical tasks with legal work, group tasks together, or lack detail, and that the reduction can apply to the whole timekeeper rather than to specific entries.
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
Med-Stop, Inc. v. Vandutch, Inc., No. 1:23-cv-21875 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 24, 2025) 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.
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