E.D. Oklahoma cuts commercial fee award 68.3%, including for block billing

What happened

Jones Walker sought $59,391 in fees for 156.5 hours in a motion to compel. The court awarded $18,828.38, a reduction of $40,562.62 or 68.3%. It struck hours for unrelated claims, reduced otherwise recoverable block-billed entries by 25%, cut vague entries by 25%, allowed only one attorney's time for duplicative tasks, reduced one timekeeper's hours by 25% for excessiveness, and lowered three attorneys' hourly rates.

What the court said

The Court therefore reduces otherwise recoverable block billing entries by 25% and, where the requested block billed time includes allowed and disallowed time, the entry is reduced by 50%.

Therefore, the Court reduces vague time entries for otherwise recoverable tasks by 25%.

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

Why it matters

The ruling shows that a fee award can be reduced sharply when time records mix recoverable and unrelated work, combine tasks in block entries, or lack detail. Courts apply percentage cuts to such entries and may also adjust hours and rates, so precise, task-specific records are central to what a fee applicant recovers.

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. Oklahoma approves and attorney fee motions in Oklahoma 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.