S.D. Florida cuts commercial fee award 16.4%, including for vague entries

What happened

PNC Bank sought $5,471 in fees under a contract fee clause for 20.1 hours. The court awarded $4,576.75, a reduction of $894.25 or 16.4%. It identified vague entries for redacted email communications that also appeared duplicative, entries that appeared duplicative and unnecessary, and time on Ms. Vinci's case that should not be recovered. The court then reduced recoverable attorney fees by 15% and adjusted the hourly rate.

What the court said

First, there are entries regarding email communications with redactions that make the entries vague and appear duplicative.

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

Why it matters

The ruling shows that a fee applicant's time entries are read closely: redactions that obscure what was done, duplicate-looking entries, and work on unrelated matters can each draw reductions, and a court may apply a further percentage cut before adjusting the hourly rate.

How to keep this out of your fee petition

• Name the task, the document or person involved, and the purpose.
• Avoid stock phrases that could describe any day in any matter.
• Keep privileged detail general, but specific enough to show the work.

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.