Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-02237/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-02237-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Insurance Contract

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National Fire & Marine initially requested $46,317.60, but concedes that $117.50 was

inadvertently included twice in its original request.

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

American Family Mutual Insurance Co., a

Wisconsin corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

National Fire & Marine Insurance Co., a

foreign corporation; et al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CV 07-02237-PHX-NVW

ORDER

Before the Court is National Fire & Marine Insurance Co.’s Final Motion for

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (Doc. 1030). National Fire & Marine requests an award of

$46,200.101

 in attorneys’ fees and non-taxable costs. 

In this action, Plaintiff American Family Mutual Insurance Co. sued numerous

insurance companies for equitable contribution related to settlement of an underlying

multimillion dollar construction defect case. To reduce unnecessary litigation expense,

the equitable contribution action proceeded in phases that focused on common defenses. 

National Fire & Marine obtained summary judgment for one of its insureds during the

first phase and summary judgment for its remaining insureds during the second phase. 

Although the first phase summary judgment for the one insured was reversed on appeal,

Case 2:07-cv-02237-NVW Document 1035 Filed 04/06/12 Page 1 of 3
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National Fire & Marine obtained a final judgment in its favor for that insured on remand. 

Thus, National Fire & Marine prevailed entirely on Plaintiff’s equitable contribution

action. 

Plaintiff’s objections to specific time entries submitted by National Fire & Marine

are overruled except for one duplicative entry in the amount of $117.50. As previously

decided, monitoring litigation related to the defenses of other Defendants was reasonably

related to the defense of National Fire & Marine, and Plaintiff could have controlled costs

incurred searching for relevant documents in the voluminous document depository by

producing the documents responsive to discovery requests directly to Defendants. 

National Fire & Marine is eligible for award of attorneys’ fees and non-taxable

costs under A.R.S. § 12-341.01(A). None of the factors to be considered in determining

entitlement under § 12-341.01(A) weighs against a fee award, and awarding fees to the

successful parties provides incentive for all parties to closely assess the likelihood of

success in their litigation strategies. See Associated Indem. Corp. v. Warner, 143 Ariz.

567, 694 P.2d 1181 (1985). 

On March 4, 2010, judgment was entered against Plaintiff and in favor of National

Fire & Marine in the amount of $16,596.00 for attorneys’ fees and $0.00 for non-taxable

costs, plus interest at the federal rate from the date of judgment until paid, based on

National Fire & Marine prevailing on first phase summary judgment. (Doc. 875.) The

present award includes the amount awarded March 4, 2010, and supersedes the March 4,

2010 judgment in National Fire & Marine’s favor. 

On December 20, 2010, judgment was entered in favor of National Fire & Marine

and against Plaintiff in the amount of $228,688.50 for attorneys’ fees, plus interest at the

federal rate from the date of judgment until paid. (Doc. 1008.) The present award does

not include and is made in addition to the amount awarded in the judgment of December

20, 2010.

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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that National Fire & Marine Insurance Co.’s

Final Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (Doc. 1030) is granted in the amount of

$46,200.10 for attorneys’ fees and non-taxable costs.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk enter judgment pursuant to Fed. R.

Civ. P. 54(d) and LRCiv 54.2 against Plaintiff American Family Mutual Insurance

Company and in favor of National Fire & Marine Insurance Company for $46,200.10 for

attorneys’ fees and non-taxable costs, plus interest at the federal rate from the date of

judgment until paid.

DATED this 6th day of April, 2012.

Case 2:07-cv-02237-NVW Document 1035 Filed 04/06/12 Page 3 of 3