Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
11 approved rates from 5 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Aug 12, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Fewer than 5 approved rates for any one role in the last two years. Each ruling is listed below.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 2 of 7 timekeepers (29%).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent M.D. Pennsylvania rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Bruce v. City of Pittston, Pennsylvania, No. 3:23-cv-00711 (M.D. Pa. Aug. 12, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 for another timekeeper); Lewis v. The Money Source, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-00387 (M.D. Pa. Jan. 23, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 to $415 for attorneys; $150 for a paralegal); Durand v. Lake Scranton Urgent Care, LLC, No. 3:25-cv-00740 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 29, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney with 13 years' experience); Aerotek, Inc. v. River Run Foods Inc, No. 4:24-cv-00804 (M.D. Pa. Feb. 4, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $375 for a partner; $350 for an attorney; $165 to $195 for associates); Holmes v. American Home Patient/Lincare, No. 4:21-cv-01683 (M.D. Pa. Jan. 28, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $115 to $150 for paralegals).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Bruce v. City of Pittston, Pennsylvania
Aug 12, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved other $225 $225 The court's words
Pittston came to this number by multiplying the hours its counsel worked on this matter by a rate of $225.00 per hour.
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Lewis v. The Money Source, Inc.
Jan 23, 2026 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $415 $415 Attorney $350 $350 Paralegal $150 $150 The court's words
the parties stipulated to the reasonable rates to be charged by Appellant's professionals as follows: 1) $415.00 per hour for Carlo Sabatini, Esq.
2) $350.00 per hour for Brett Freeman, Esq.
3) $150.00 per hour for Ashley Werner, paralegal.
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Durand v. Lake Scranton Urgent Care, LLC
Dec 29, 2025 · Disability access
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 13 years $350 $350 The court's words
Attorney Mahan 's requested rate of $350.00 aligns with the rates contemplated in Holmes. Consequently, for the above-discussed reasons, $350.00 per hour is a reasonable hourly rate in this vicinage for this lawyer
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Aerotek, Inc. v. River Run Foods Inc
Feb 4, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $375 Attorney $350 Associate $165 Associate $195 The court's words
Based on this background, I find it appropriate to use the maximum hourly rate, $375, for Zito despite the relative simplicity of the tasks performed in this case.
After considering his level of experience and the uncomplicated nature of this dispute, I conclude an hourly rate of $350 is appropriate for Chaffee-McClure.
Given her level of experience, I will calculate Jutt’s fees using an hourly rate of $165.
Given this level of experience, I conclude that Duncan’s appropriate hourly rate is $195.
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Holmes v. American Home Patient/Lincare
Jan 28, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $175 $115 Paralegal $175 $150 The court's words
As to Donneshia Johnson’s hourly rate, I reduce it from $175 to $115.
I slightly reduce Karadeema’s hourly rate from $175 to $150.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jan 16, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $253 $253 The court's words
He argued the EAJA's text allows an attorney to bill up to $125 per hour, but that figure is indexed to the cost of living, and the current maximum billing rate is $252.50 an hour.
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West Shore Home, LLC et al v. Chappell
Jun 12, 2024 · Other · Rates from a fee matrix · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 17 years $525 $525 Attorney 7 years $370 $370 The court's words
Attorney Collins had approximately seventeen years of litigation experience specializing in employment litigation. His billable hourly rate ranged from $500-$525.
Attorney Myirski had approximately seven years of litigation experience specializing in employment litigation. Her billable hourly rate ranged from $350-$370.
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Beard v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC et al
Jan 9, 2024 · Consumer protection · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $450 $375 The court's words
the court will reduce Attorney Rubb’s hourly rate from $450 to $375 per hour.
FAQ
How often does the M.D. Pennsylvania cut a requested hourly rate?
For 2 of 7 timekeepers (29%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the M.D. Pennsylvania?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. 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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