Research · 107 federal fee rulings in Tennessee
Attorney Fee Motions in Tennessee Federal Courts (2026): Judges Cut 48.6% of Requests
In this article
How often do Tennessee federal judges cut fee requests?
In 48.6% of 107 rulings that decided a fee amount since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
In rulings that cut fees at least partly over time records, the median cut was 60.6% (13 rulings).
Why do they cut?
Most often for a lower hourly rate, duplicative staffing and excessive hours.
| Reduction | Share of rulings with a cut | Rulings |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate reduced | 48.1% | 25 |
| Duplicative staffing | 40.4% | 21 |
| Excessive hours | 25% | 13 |
| Limited success | 23.1% | 12 |
| Unrelated claims | 21.2% | 11 |
| Travel time | 21.2% | 11 |
| Vague entries | 17.3% | 9 |
| Other reasons | 28.8% | 15 |
What hourly rates do they approve?
Median approved rates by district, from rulings in the last two years.
| District | Partner | Associate | Paralegal | Rulings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.D. Tennessee | $500 | $415 | 12 | |
| W.D. Tennessee | $393 | $150 | 19 |
Recent fee cuts over time records
- M.D. Tennessee cuts intellectual property fee award 12%, including for vague entries (Sep 28, 2026)
- M.D. Tennessee cuts fee award 84.6%, including for block billing (Sep 15, 2026)
- M.D. Tennessee cuts consumer protection fee award over missing contemporaneous records (Aug 13, 2026)
- M.D. Tennessee cuts intellectual property fee award 12%, including for vague entries (Mar 2, 2026)
- W.D. Tennessee cuts commercial fee award 12.4%, including for block billing (Dec 8, 2025)
- E.D. Tennessee cuts civil rights fee award 54.8%, including for clerical work (Sep 19, 2025)
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 Tennessee that decided the amount of a fee request (107 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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee reduce attorney fee requests?
In 48.6% of 107 fee rulings since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
Why do Tennessee federal judges cut attorney fees?
Most often for a lower hourly rate, duplicative staffing and excessive hours.
What hourly rates do federal courts in Tennessee approve?
M.D. Tennessee: partners $500, associates $415; W.D. Tennessee: partners $393.