Research · 60 federal fee rulings in Utah
Attorney Fee Motions in Utah Federal Courts (2026): Judges Cut 46.7% of Requests
In this article
How often do Utah federal judges cut fee requests?
In 46.7% of 60 rulings that decided a fee amount since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
Why do they cut?
Most often for a lower hourly rate, time on unrelated claims and duplicative staffing.
| Reduction | Share of rulings with a cut | Rulings |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate reduced | 25% | 7 |
| Unrelated claims | 25% | 7 |
| Duplicative staffing | 14.3% | 4 |
| Clerical work billed as legal work | 14.3% | 4 |
| Excessive hours | 14.3% | 4 |
| Limited success | 7.1% | 2 |
| Missing contemporaneous records | 3.6% | 1 |
| Other reasons | 21.4% | 6 |
Recent fee cuts over time records
- D. Utah cuts ERISA benefits fee award, including for clerical work (Sep 14, 2026)
- D. Utah cuts social security fee award 10.9%, including for clerical work (Oct 8, 2025)
- D. Utah cuts intellectual property fee award, including for block billing (Jun 16, 2025)
- D. Utah cuts commercial fee award 26.6%, including for vague entries (Apr 17, 2025)
- D. Utah cuts social security fee award 45.6%, including for clerical work (Dec 9, 2024)
- D. Utah cuts intellectual property fee award 68%, including for missing records (Aug 6, 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 Utah that decided the amount of a fee request (60 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 Utah?
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 Utah reduce attorney fee requests?
In 46.7% of 60 fee rulings since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
Why do Utah federal judges cut attorney fees?
Most often for a lower hourly rate, time on unrelated claims and duplicative staffing.