Lyon v. Bergstrom Law, Ltd., No. 1:2016cv00401 - Document 47 (E.D. Cal. 2017)

Court Description: ORDER Granting Plaintiff's 43 Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs, signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 9/7/2017. (Gaumnitz, R)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 NICOLE LYON, 12 Plaintiff, 13 14 No. 1:16-cv-00401-DAD-SKO ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS v. BERGSTROM LAW, LTD., (Doc. No. 43) 15 Defendant. 16 17 This matter came before the court on September 6, 2017 for hearing on plaintiff’s motion 18 for attorney’s fees and costs. (Doc. No. 43.) Attorney Crosby S. Connolly appeared on behalf of 19 plaintiff Nicole Lyon. No appearance was made by or on behalf of defendant Bergstrom Law, 20 Ltd., against which default judgment has previously been entered. (Doc. No. 41.) After oral 21 argument, the motion was taken under submission. For the reasons stated below, plaintiff’s 22 motion for attorney’s fees and costs is granted. BACKGROUND 23 Plaintiff filed suit against defendant on March 24, 2016, alleging violations of the federal 24 25 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (the “FDCPA”) and California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt 26 Collection Practices Act (the “Rosenthal Act”). (Doc. No. 1.) 27 ///// 28 ///// 1 On May 31, 2016, defendant filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint for failure to 1 2 state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (Doc. No. 5.) Upon 3 submission of briefs by both parties, and after oral argument, the court denied defendant’s 4 motion to dismiss on August 5, 2016. (Doc. No. 18.) Thereafter, and pursuant to a prior 5 agreement between the parties, defendant’s responses to plaintiff’s discovery requests became 6 due on September 4, 2016. (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶¶ 8–9; Doc. No. 25-5.) On August 5, 2016, 7 plaintiff’s counsel emailed defendant’s counsel, Katherine G. Heidbrink, confirming the date on 8 which defendant intended to provide responses to plaintiff’s discovery requests. (Doc. No. 25-2 9 at ¶ 13; Doc. No. 25-6.) Later that day, plaintiff’s counsel emailed Jeremy Bergstrom, the 10 managing attorney at defendant Bergstrom Law, Ltd. (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶ 15; Doc. No. 25-7.) 11 Plaintiff’s counsel stated in his email to Mr. Bergstrom that he had recently become aware of 12 attorney Heidbrink’s departure from Bergstrom Law. (Id.) Plaintiff’s counsel reiterated his 13 request that Mr. Bergstrom provide the date on which defendant intended to provide responses to 14 plaintiff’s discovery requests. (Id.) Plaintiff’s counsel received no response to this email. (Doc. 15 No. 25-22 at ¶ 16.) Over the following weeks, plaintiff’s counsel made further efforts to contact Mr. 16 17 Bergstrom and other employees of Bergstrom Law, including by phone, email, fax, and mail.1 18 On October 14, 2016, after receiving no response to its requests, plaintiff filed a motion to compel 19 defendant’s discovery responses, which included a request for attorney’s fees accrued in 20 connection with the repeated attempts to contact defendant’s counsel. (Doc. No. 27.) Defendant 21 did not oppose the motion to compel, which was granted by the assigned magistrate judge on 22 November 2, 2016 with an award of attorney’s fees to plaintiff’s counsel . (Id.) Defendant has 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 The additional attempts include: (1) an email to Mr. Bergstrom and another Bergstrom Law employee on September 12, 2016 (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶¶ 17–18; Doc. No. 25-8.); (2) a meet and confer letter sent by email, fax, and USPS to Mr. Bergstrom on September 21, 2016 (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶¶ 19–20; Doc. No. 25-9.); (3) an email to Mr. Bergstrom on September 26, 2016 (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶¶ 20–21; Doc. No. 25-10.); (4) a voicemail left with Yvonne McGovern, an attorney at Bergstrom Law, on September 26, 2016 (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶¶ 22–23.); (5) separate emails sent to Mr. Bergstrom on September 28, 29, and 30, 2016 (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶¶ 24–28; Doc. No. 2511; Doc. No. 25-12; Doc. No. 25-13.); and (6) a voicemail left with Ms. McGovern on October 3, 2016. (Doc. No. 25-2 at ¶ 31.) 2 1 failed to comply with this order, both by refusing to respond to plaintiff’s discovery requests and 2 by failing to timely pay attorney’s fees. (Doc. No. 28; Doc. No. 29.) 3 On December 28, 2016, plaintiff filed a motion to strike defendant’s answer to the 4 complaint. (Doc. No. 30.) Defendant did not oppose the motion. On January 17, 2017, the 5 assigned magistrate judge issued findings and recommendations recommending that plaintiff’s 6 motion to strike be granted, and that default be entered against defendant. (Doc. No. 31.) On 7 March 30, 2017, the undersigned adopted those findings and recommendations in full, struck the 8 defendant’s answer, and directed the Clerk of the Court to enter default against defendant. (Doc. 9 No. 35.) 10 On April 25, 2017, plaintiff moved for default judgment. (Doc. No. 38.) On May 31, 11 2017, the magistrate judge issued findings and recommendations recommending plaintiff’s 12 motion for default judgment be granted. (Doc. No. 40.) On July 11, 2017, the undersigned 13 adopted those findings and recommendations in full, granted plaintiff’s motion for default 14 judgment, and awarded statutory damages to plaintiff under both the FDCPA and the Rosenthal 15 Act. (Doc. No. 41.) The court also directed plaintiffs to file a motion for attorney’s fees and 16 costs within fourteen days. (Id.) On July 24, 2017, plaintiffs filed a motion for attorney’s fees 17 and costs, which is presently before the court. 18 19 LEGAL STANDARD The FDCPA provides that any debt collector who fails to comply with its provisions is 20 liable “in the case of any successful action . . . [for] the costs of the action, together with a 21 reasonable attorney’s fee as determined by the court.” Camacho v. Bridgeport Fin., Inc., 523 22 F.3d 973, 978 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting 15 U.S.C. § 1692k(a)(3)). The language of the FDCPA 23 makes the award of attorney’s fees mandatory rather than discretionary. Id. 24 In calculating the fee award, courts are instructed to use the “lodestar method.” Ferland v. 25 Conrad Credit Corp., 244 F.3d 1145, 1149 n. 4 (9th Cir. 2001). The lodestar method requires 26 multiplying the number of hours the prevailing party reasonably expended on the litigation by a 27 reasonable hourly rate. Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 965 (9th Cir. 2003) (citation 28 omitted). There is a “strong presumption” that the lodestar figure represents a reasonable award, 3 1 and the figure should only be departed from “if certain factors relating to the nature and difficulty 2 of the case overcome this strong presumption and indicate that such an adjustment is necessary.” 3 Hiken v. Dep’t of Def., 836 F.3d 1037, 1044 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting Long v. IRS, 932 F.2d 1309, 4 1314 (9th Cir. 1991)). 5 The district court must determine a reasonable hourly rate, taking into account the 6 experience, reputation, and ability of the attorney; the outcome of the results of the proceedings; 7 the customary fees in the community; and the novelty or the difficulty of the question presented. 8 Hiken, 836 F.3d at 1044; Chalmers v. City of Los Angeles, 796 F.2d 1205, 1210 (9th Cir. 1986). 9 Generally, the forum district represents the relevant legal community. Gates v. Deukmejian, 987 10 F.2d 1392, 1405 (9th Cir. 1992); see also Shirrod v. Dir., Office of Workers’ Comp. Programs, 11 809 F.3d 1082, 1087 (9th Cir. 2015); Camacho, 523 F.3d at 979 (determining that “generally, the 12 relevant community [for the prevailing market rate] is the forum in which the district court sits”). 13 After determining that the hourly rate is reasonable, the next step in calculating attorney’s 14 fees under the lodestar method is to examine the number of hours reasonably expended in 15 prosecuting the case. Where attorney’s fees are awarded, the prevailing party’s counsel is 16 normally entitled to compensation for “all hours reasonably expended on the litigation.” Hensley 17 v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 435 (1983); see also Ibrahim v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 835 18 F.3d 1048, 1060 (9th Cir. 2016). However, compensation may be reduced where there is 19 inadequate documentation of hours expended, or where the time claimed is “excessive, redundant, 20 or otherwise unnecessary.” Jankey v. Poop Deck, 537 F.3d 1122, 1132 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting 21 Hensley, 461 U.S. at 434); Cunningham v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 879 F.2d 481, 484 (9th Cir. 1988). 22 In addition to attorney’s fees, the FDCPA also contemplates the awarding of “costs of the 23 action” to the prevailing party. Camacho, 523 F.3d at 978. Accord Marx v. General Revenue 24 Corp., 668 F.3d 1174, 1179 (10th Cir. 2011), aff’d, 568 U.S. 371 (2013). 25 DISCUSSION 26 A. 27 Plaintiff’s counsel requests that he be awarded fees at the rate of $295.00 per hour. (Doc. 28 Reasonable Hourly Rate No. 43-1 at 14.) Plaintiff’s counsel submits his own declaration, as well as the declarations of 4 1 attorneys Clinton Rooney and Stephen Recordon, two consumer rights attorneys who do not 2 practice at plaintiff’s counsel’s law firm.2 (Doc. No. 43-2; Doc. No. 43-5; Doc. No. 43-6.) The 3 court notes that “[a]ffidavits of the [plaintiff’s] attorney and other attorneys regarding prevailing 4 fees in the community, and rate determinations in other case, particularly those setting a rate for 5 the [plaintiff’s] attorney, are satisfactory evidence of the prevailing market rate.” Hiken, 836 F.3d 6 at 1044 (quoting United Steelworkers of Am. v. Phelps Dodge Corp., 896 F.2d 403, 407 (9th Cir. 7 1990)). Attorneys Rooney and Recordon declare they are familiar with plaintiff’s counsel’s 8 skills, experience, and reputation. (Doc. Nos. 43-5, 43-6.) Like plaintiff’s counsel, both Rooney 9 and Recordon are consumer rights attorneys, and regularly practice before California state and 10 federal courts. (Id.) On the basis of their experience and familiarity with this field of law, both 11 attorneys Rooney and Recordon conclude that in the present litigation, an hourly rate of $295.00 12 would be reasonable and appropriate. (Id.) Plaintiff’s counsel has been employed by his present firm as an attorney for nearly five 13 14 years. (Doc. No. 43-1 at 15.) His firm works exclusively in the field of consumer rights law, and 15 he has received training in the field. (Id.) Plaintiff has also produced multiple declarations 16 averring that his requested hourly rate of $295.00 is reasonable in light of his experience, 17 expertise, and the prevailing rates in the region. (Doc. No. 43-6 at 2.) Moreover, in obtaining a 18 default judgment, plaintiff’s counsel has obtained a favorable result for his client. See Hensley, 19 461 U.S. at 435 (“Where a plaintiff has obtained excellent results, his attorney should recover a 20 fully compensatory fee.”); Chalmers, 796 F.2d at 1211 (noting that the district court should 21 consider “the outcome of the results of the proceedings” in determining an appropriate fee 22 award). Given his experience, training, and the prevailing market rate for consumer rights 23 attorneys in the region, the court is satisfied an hourly rate of $295.00 constitutes a reasonable 24 rate in the forum district for the work plaintiff’s counsel performed. 25 ///// 26 27 28 2 In his declaration, plaintiff’s counsel directs the court’s attention to a total of six separate lawsuits in which courts approved the hourly rate for his requested attorney’s fees. (Doc. No. 432 at ¶¶ 30–35.) The amounts in each case ranged from $295.00 per hour to $325.00 per hour. 5 1 B. 2 Plaintiff’s counsel seeks compensation for 45.3 hours of attorney time devoted to this Hours Reasonably Expended 3 case. When multiplied by its requested hourly rate of $295.00, this yields a total attorney’s fee in 4 the amount of $13,363.50. (Doc. No. 43-1 at 19.) Although the time sheet submitted by 5 plaintiff’s reflect that other attorneys and administrative staff also performed work on plaintiff’s 6 behalf in the present case, plaintiff seeks an award of fees only for the work conducted by Mr. 7 Connolly. (Doc. No. 43-3.) 8 Plaintiff’s success in this case was made relatively straightforward by defendant’s failure 9 to contest several motions, including the present one. Nonetheless, the court is satisfied with the 10 documentation plaintiff’s counsel has presented and finds that plaintiff’s counsel exerted 11 reasonable efforts in attempting to prosecute its case in a timely manner. As a result, and in light 12 of defendant’s failure to object, the court will award plaintiff compensation for 45.3 hours, the 13 full amount sought. 14 C. Costs 15 Finally, plaintiff’s counsel seeks an award of costs in the amount of $406.21. These costs 16 amount to $400.00 for the filing fee for this case, and the remaining $6.21 for envelopes and 17 postage used in prosecution of the present action. Expense awards “should be limited to typical out-of-pocket expenses that are charged to a 18 19 fee paying client,” and frequently include reimbursements for “(1) meals, hotels, and 20 transportation; (2) photocopies; (3) postage, telephone, and fax; (4) filing fees; (5) messenger and 21 overnight delivery; (6) online legal research; (7) class action notices; (8) experts, consultants, and 22 investigators; and (9) mediation fees.” In re Immune Response Secs. Litig., 497 F. Supp. 2d 1166, 23 1177 (S.D. Cal. 2007); see also Johnson v. Yates, No. 2:14-cv-01189-TLN-EFB, 2017 WL 24 3438737, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 10, 2017). Plaintiff’s requested costs are appropriate, and the 25 court awards the full amount sought. 26 ///// 27 ///// 28 ///// 6 1 CONCLUSION 2 For the reasons set forth above: 3 1. 4 5 granted; 2. 6 7 3. 12 The court awards costs to plaintiff in the total amount of $406.21, for a total award of fees and costs in the amount of $13,769.71; and 4. 10 11 The court awards attorney’s fees to plaintiff in the total amount of $13,363.50, representing 45.3 hours of attorney time expended at a rate of $295.00 per hour; 8 9 Plaintiff’s motion for the award of attorney’s fees and costs (Doc. No. 43) is Defendant shall pay the amount awarded to plaintiff’s counsel within twenty-one days of the date of service of this order. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: September 7, 2017 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7

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