Vague time entries: how courts cut fee awards for them
Entries such as attention to file, research, or review documents do not tell the court what was done or why. When a judge cannot connect an entry to the work in the case, the hours are reduced or struck.
- Rulings tracked
- 247
- Median cut for this reason
- 25%
- Total fees cut in these rulings
- $31.4M
Median of the percentage reductions courts stated for vague entries. Totals cover every reduction in those rulings.
What courts say
the following entries lack clarity and support, and will therefore be subtracted from counsel’s total hours eligible for attorney fees
A 12% reduction compensates Defendants for the necessary work performed while accounting for vague descriptions, overlapping work by two firms, the parties’ shared responsibility for litigation expense, the complexity of the case, and Tammy’s financial circumstances.
The court finds certain entries not specific enough to assess the reasonableness of those entries. Such entries include “prepare for conference” and “confer with client re case status” in May 2024
I have reduced those time entries I view as duplicative, vague, and excessive.
Taking into consideration that the amounts have already been discounted by Plaintiff, the Court finds an additional 10% reduction is warranted.
How to keep it 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.
More: what a fee declaration needs · fee cuts for bad time records
FAQ
What is vague entries in legal billing?
Entries such as attention to file, research, or review documents do not tell the court what was done or why. When a judge cannot connect an entry to the work in the case, the hours are reduced or struck.
How much do courts cut attorney fees for vague entries?
When federal courts cut fees for vague entries, the median reduction they applied was 25% (138 rulings since January 2024).
How often do courts cut fees for vague entries?
In 13.9% of federal fee rulings that cut a fee since January 2024 (288 rulings).
How do you avoid vague entries on a 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.
Rulings that cut fees for vague entries
| Date | Court | Case | Practice area | Requested | Awarded | Cut | Recordkeeping reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | D. Arizona | Zommick v. Lewis Construction Company LLC et al | Wage and hour | $21,664 | $20,516.50 | 5.3% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries |
| Sep 28, 2026 | M.D. Tennessee | Livingston v. Jay Livingston Music, Inc., et al. | Intellectual property | $385,979.05 | $339,661.56 | 12% | Vague entries |
| Sep 28, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | LIN v. LEES HOUSE RESTAURANT INC et al | Wage and hour | $110,935.83 | $9,952.11 | 91% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing, Vague entries |
| Sep 23, 2026 | S.D. Texas | 20100 Eastex, LLC v. Saltgrass, Inc. | Commercial | $63,789.50 | $38,410.50 | 39.8% | Vague entries |
| Sep 23, 2026 | D. Colorado | Culp et al v. Remington of Montrose, LLC et al | Employment | $303,640.42 | $216,112.71 | 28.8% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 17, 2026 | E.D. California | TBM N160TM, LLC et al v. Signature Flight Support LLC | Commercial | $291,460 | $140,585 | 51.8% | Vague entries |
| Sep 16, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Valley National Bank v. CaptiveOne Services, LLC et al | Commercial | $464,258.50 | $250,730 | 46% | Vague entries, Block billing |
| Sep 15, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | Malone v. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. | Wage and hour | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 14, 2026 | E.D. Louisiana | Gulf Credit, LLC v. DHD Offshore Services, LLC et al | Commercial | Not stated | Not stated | 10% for records | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing |
| Sep 8, 2026 | E.D. New York | Han v. Shang Noodle House, Inc. et al | Wage and hour | $71,763 | $25,732.41 | 64.1% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries, Missing contemporaneous records |
| Sep 8, 2026 | E.D. New York | Dilfanian v. The New York City Department of Education et al | Employment | $365,400 | $128,370.54 | 64.9% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 20, 2026 | N.D. Texas | Mr Cooper Group Inc v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh PA et al | Commercial | $120,000 | $112,463.61 | 6.3% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 19, 2026 | E.D. California | Gaines et al v. FCA US, LLC | Consumer protection | $37,365.68 | $7,300 | 80.5% | Vague entries, Block billing, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 14, 2026 | D. Colorado | Joppy v. HCA-HealthOne LLC et al | Employment | $2,703,055 | $2,002,997.25 | 25.9% | Vague entries, Block billing |
| Aug 11, 2026 | D. Hawaii | Privratsky v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company | Commercial | $693,652.50 | $367,524.91 | 47% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 10, 2026 | E.D. Texas | Bounds v. Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano | Employment | $110,385 | $88,308 | 20% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries, Block billing |
| Aug 10, 2026 | D. New Jersey | M. A. v. WALL TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION | Special education | $309,007.58 | $284,654.75 | 7.9% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries |
| Aug 10, 2026 | S.D. California | Eoll v. General Motors LLC et al | Consumer protection | $26,290.80 | $15,109 | 42.5% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 7, 2026 | D. Minnesota | Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable | Immigration | $6,093.83 | $5,690.75 | 6.6% | Vague entries, Vague entries |
| Aug 4, 2026 | D. Arizona | Wagoner et al v. State Industrial Products Corporation | ERISA benefits | $30,400 | $25,625.30 | 15.7% | Block billing, Vague entries |
| Jul 29, 2026 | E.D. Louisiana | George v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. | Disability access | $371,600 | $128,375 | 65.5% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 22, 2026 | E.D. New York | Reyling et al v. Three Village Central School District et al | $183,393.61 | $62,509 | 65.9% | Vague entries | |
| Jul 9, 2026 | D. New Mexico | Eze et al v. Lunsford et al | Civil rights | $49,632.34 | $22,079.27 | 55.5% | Vague entries, Block billing, Vague entries, Block billing, Vague entries, Block billing |
| Jul 8, 2026 | E.D. New York | Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company v. Wertzberger et al | Commercial | $139,047.42 | $111,463.36 | 19.8% | Vague entries, Vague entries |
| Jul 7, 2026 | D. Puerto Rico | Gonzalez-Carpio v. Bracha & Success Enterprise LLC. et al | Employment | $185,689.50 | $158,522.50 | 14.6% | Vague entries, Block billing |
| Jul 7, 2026 | Sixth Circuit | Morgan Pianko v. General R.V. Center, Inc., et al | Employment | $1,509,613.50 | $337,320 | 77.7% | Vague entries |
| Jul 2, 2026 | S.D. Florida | PNC Bank, N.A. v. Floral Emporium, Inc. et al | Commercial | $5,471 | $4,576.75 | 16.4% | Vague entries |
| Jul 2, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Bakhai v. BDO USA, P.C. | Not stated | Not stated | 25% for records | Vague entries | |
| Jun 25, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | SAWICKI v. WILSON et al | Civil rights | $9,633 | $9,101 | 5.5% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jun 23, 2026 | D. Puerto Rico | Sanchez-Sifonte et al v. Fonseca et al | $10,830 | $5,987 | 44.7% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work | |
| Jun 18, 2026 | D. Puerto Rico | Sanchez-Sifonte et al v. Fonseca et al | $8,800 | $7,937.50 | 9.8% | Vague entries | |
| Jun 17, 2026 | D. Puerto Rico | Sanchez-Sifonte et al v. Fonseca et al | $62,020.70 | $39,413.25 | 36.5% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work | |
| Jun 17, 2026 | E.D. New York | St. Marys Cement U.S. LLC v. Red Rock Industries, Inc. et al | Commercial | $61,087.04 | $30,000 | 50.9% | Missing contemporaneous records, Vague entries |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Bankr. S.D. Ohio | Timothy Naff and April Naff | Bankruptcy | $4,345.50 | $4,287 | 1.4% | Vague entries |
| Jun 10, 2026 | D. Arizona | Starboard Attitude Trust et al v. FirstFleet Incorporated | $25,407.74 | $14,560.40 | 42.7% | Vague entries, Block billing | |
| Jun 3, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | Turner et al v. Avco Corporation et al | Not stated | Not stated | 50% for records | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries | |
| Jun 3, 2026 | S.D. Florida | PNC Bank, N.A. v. Floral Emporium, Inc. et al | Commercial | $5,471 | $4,576.75 | 16.4% | Vague entries |
| May 22, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Century Bank v. M/V SUMMER 69 et al | $209,278.50 | $177,886.73 | 15% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries | |
| May 21, 2026 | M.D. Georgia | GRAHAM ANDERSON v. EQUIFAX INFORMATION et al | Consumer protection | $42,881.20 | $12,281.20 | 71.4% | Vague entries, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| May 19, 2026 | S.D. Texas | Saddleback Exploration, LLC v. Brunelle et al | $52,707.50 | $4,637.50 | 91.2% | Block billing, Vague entries | |
| May 11, 2026 | S.D. Texas | Wright v. ASI Lloyds | $131,977 | $73,889.50 | 44% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work | |
| May 5, 2026 | W.D. Texas | Autry v. Ahern Rentals, Inc. dba Ahern Rentals and Sales | Employment | $1,281,460 | $251,649.54 | 80.4% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Apr 23, 2026 | W.D. Texas | Castro v. Kory et al | Civil rights | $674,773 | $572,902.63 | 15.1% | Block billing, Vague entries |
| Mar 17, 2026 | E.D. New York | In re Wang Litigation | Wage and hour | $182,831.83 | $77,317.25 | 57.7% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Mar 11, 2026 | E.D. California | Martinez Rendon v. USCB, Inc. | Consumer protection | $23,607 | $7,178.50 | 69.6% | Vague entries, Block billing |
| Mar 2, 2026 | M.D. Tennessee | Livingston v. Jay Livingston Music, Inc., et al. | Intellectual property | $385,979.05 | $339,661.56 | 12% | Vague entries |
| Feb 27, 2026 | First Circuit | Garcia Colon v. State Insurance Fund Corporation | Employment | Not stated | Not stated | 20% for records | Vague entries, Block billing |
| Feb 27, 2026 | First Circuit | Garcia Colon v. State Insurance Fund Corporation | Employment | Not stated | Not stated | 30% for records | Vague entries, Vague entries |
| Feb 25, 2026 | S.D. Texas | Wright v. ASI Lloyds | Commercial | $131,977 | $112,405.50 | 14.8% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Feb 9, 2026 | E.D. New York | IME WatchDog, Inc. v. Gelardi et al | $151,259.69 | $105,881.78 | 30% | Block billing, Vague entries |
See all 247 rulings that cut fees for vague entries
Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.