Research · 55 federal fee rulings in Missouri
Attorney Fee Motions in Missouri Federal Courts (2026): Judges Cut 30.9% of Requests
In this article
How often do Missouri federal judges cut fee requests?
In 30.9% of 55 rulings that decided a fee amount since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
Why do they cut?
Most often for excessive hours, a lower hourly rate and duplicative staffing.
| Reduction | Share of rulings with a cut | Rulings |
|---|---|---|
| Excessive hours | 35.3% | 6 |
| Hourly rate reduced | 29.4% | 5 |
| Duplicative staffing | 17.6% | 3 |
| Clerical work billed as legal work | 11.8% | 2 |
| Unrelated claims | 11.8% | 2 |
| Vague entries | 11.8% | 2 |
| Block billing | 5.9% | 1 |
| Other reasons | 41.2% | 7 |
Recent fee cuts over time records
- E.D. Missouri cuts employment fee award 1%, including for clerical work (Dec 23, 2025)
- E.D. Missouri cuts sanctions fee award 58.6%, including for vague entries (May 16, 2025)
- W.D. Missouri cuts consumer protection fee award 43.4%, including for missing records (Jan 17, 2024)
Filing a fee motion in federal court
In federal court a fee claim is generally made by motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2), filed no later than 14 days after judgment unless a statute or court order sets a different time. Many districts add local rules on conferring with the other side and on the detail the motion must include, so check the district's local rules before filing.
Before filing, see what a fee declaration needs. If you are opposing one, see which objections courts accept. Other states: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Arkansas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Maryland.
Methodology and sources
- Every ruling on GovInfo since January 2024 from a federal district court in Missouri that decided the amount of a fee request (55 rulings, stipulated awards left out).
- Reductions are counted once per ruling, where the court's words were found in the opinion. Rates come from rulings in the last two years.
Limitations. State courts are not included; this page covers federal district courts only. Some federal districts publish few or no opinions to GovInfo, including the Southern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Middle District of Florida, the Eastern District of Virginia, the Western District of Washington and the District of Nevada. They are missing or thin here. LegalTime sells timekeeping software for law firms. The sections on LegalTime describe our own product; everything else comes from the court rulings.
General information from public court rulings, not legal advice. Data: CSV (CC BY 4.0). Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it.
FAQ
How do I file a motion for attorney fees in federal court in Missouri?
In federal court a fee claim is generally made by motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2), filed no later than 14 days after judgment unless a statute or court order sets a different time. Many districts add local rules on conferring with the other side and on the detail the motion must include, so check the district's local rules before filing.
How often do federal judges in Missouri reduce attorney fee requests?
In 30.9% of 55 fee rulings since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
Why do Missouri federal judges cut attorney fees?
Most often for excessive hours, a lower hourly rate and duplicative staffing.