Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-6_14-cv-02075/USCOURTS-alnd-6_14-cv-02075-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 720
Nature of Suit: Labor Management Relations Act
Cause of Action: 29:160(1) National Labor Relations Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

JASPER DIVISION

CLAUDE T. HARRELL, JR., Regional

Director of the National Labor Relations

Board, for and on behalf of the National

Labor Relations Board,

Petitioner,

vs.

RIDGEWOOD HEALTH CARE

CENTER, INC.; RIDGEWOOD

HEALTH SERVICES, INC.,

Respondents.

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CASE NO. 6:14-CV-2075-SLB

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This case is before the court on Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs,1

filed by

respondents, Ridgewood Health Care Center, Inc., and Ridgewood Health Services, Inc.

[“the Ridgewoods]. (Doc. 34.)2 Petitioner, Claude T. Harrell, Jr., Regional Director of the

National Labor Relations Board [“Director”], for and on behalf of the National Labor

1Respondents’ Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs does not include a request for

costs under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)(1). (See generally doc. 34.) Section 2412(a)(1) states:

Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a judgment for costs, as

enumerated in [28 U.S.C. § 1920], but not including the fees and expenses of

attorneys, may be awarded to the prevailing party in any civil action brought

by or against the United States . . . . A judgment for costs when taxed against

the United States shall, in an amount established by statute, court rule, or

order, be limited to reimbursing in whole or in part the prevailing party for the

costs incurred by such party in the litigation.

2Reference to a document number, [“Doc. ___”], refers to the number assigned to each

document as it is filed in the court’s record.

FILED

 2016 May-18 PM 03:40

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 1 of 13
Relations Board [“NLRB”], opposes the respondents’ Motion, arguing his position in this

case was substantially justified and, if the court finds that his position was not substantially

justified, certain items claimed by respondents are unreasonable.3 (See generally doc. 36.) 

Upon consideration of the record, the submissions of the parties, the arguments of counsel,

and the relevant law, the court is of the opinion that respondents’ Motion for Attorneys’ Fees

and Costs, (doc. 34), is due to be granted in part and denied in part.

Respondents, Ridgewood Health Care Center, Inc. and Ridgewood Health Services,

Inc. [the Ridgewoods], ask the court to award them attorneys’ fees pursuant to the 28 U.S.C.

§ 2412(d)(1) of the Equal Access to Justice Act [EAJA], which provides:

(A) Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall award

to a prevailing party . . . fees and other expenses . . . incurred by that party in

any civil action . . . brought by . . . the United States in any court having

jurisdiction of that action, unless the court finds that the position of the United

States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award

unjust.

3

In the Conclusion section of his Opposition to Respondents’ Motion for Attorneys’

Fees and Costs, the Director states, “Respondents have failed to establish adequately that

they are a ‘party’ under [the] EAJA.” (Doc. 36 at 18.) The EAJA defines “party” to “mean[

] . . . any partnership, corporation, association, unit of local government, or organization, the

net worth of which did not exceed $7,000,000 at the time the civil action was filed, and

which had not more than 500 employees at the time the civil action was filed . . . .” 28

U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(B). The Director’s Opposition contains no argument explaining why

the Ridgewoods do not meet the definition of parties under the EAJA. (See generally doc.

36.) Given this lack of meaningful discussion, the court finds that the Director did not intend

to contest the Ridgewoods’ status as parties under the EAJA. Nevertheless, in light of

evidence submitted by the Ridgewoods with their Motion, the court finds that they satisfy the

EAJA’s definition of a party by virtue of their net worth and number of employees on the

date the Director’s Petition was filed. (See doc. 34 at 26, 30.)

2

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 2 of 13
(B) A party seeking an award of fees and other expenses shall, within thirty

days of final judgment in the action, submit to the court an application for fees

and other expenses which shows that the party is a prevailing party and is

eligible to receive an award under this subsection, and the amount sought,

including an itemized statement from any attorney or expert witness

representing or appearing in behalf of the party stating the actual time

expended and the rate at which fees and other expenses were computed. The

party shall also allege that the position of the United States was not

substantially justified. Whether or not the position of the United States was

substantially justified shall be determined on the basis of the record (including

the record with respect to the action or failure to act by the agency upon which

the civil action is based) which is made in the civil action for which fees and

other expenses are sought.

28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1). To satisfy the terms of this section, the Ridgewoods must show or

allege: (1) they are the prevailing party in this action brought by the United States, (2) their

Motion for Attorneys’ Fees was timely filed, (3) the position of the United States was not

substantially justified, and (4) there are no special circumstances that make an award of

attorney’s fees unjust. Canady v. Sullivan, 893 F.2d 1241, 1243 (11th Cir. 1990). “The

absence of any one of the above factors shall preclude an award of fees.” Id. However, if

the Ridgewoods demonstrate their entitlementto anEAJAaward, “there remains the question

whether the amount of the [requested] award is proper.” Jean v. Nelson, 863 F.2d 759, 769

(11th Cir. 1988)(emphasis added).

The Supreme Court in Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424 (1983), set forth the

following principals that “are generally applicable in all cases in which Congress has

authorized an award of fees to a ‘prevailing party:’”

4

4Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433 n.7.

3

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 3 of 13
The most useful starting point for determining the amount of a

reasonable fee is the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation

multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate. This calculation provides an objective

basis on which to make an initial estimate of the value of a lawyer's services. 

The party seeking an award of fees should submit evidence supporting the

hours worked and rates claimed. Where the documentation of hours is

inadequate, the district court may reduce the award accordingly.

The district court . . . should exclude from [its] initial fee calculation

hours that were not “reasonably expended.” . . . Cases may be overstaffed,

and the skill and experience of lawyers vary widely. Counsel for the

prevailing party should make a good faith effort to exclude from a fee request

hours that are excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary, just as a lawyer

in private practice ethically is obligated to exclude such hours from his fee

submission. “In the private sector, ‘billing judgment’ is an important

component in fee setting. It is no less important here. Hours that are not

properly billed to one’s client also are not properly billed to one’s adversary

pursuant to statutory authority.” Copeland v. Marshall, 205 U.S. App. D.C.

390, 401, 641 F.2d 880, 891 (1980)(en banc)(emphasis in original).

Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433-34.

A. SUBSTANTIALLY JUSTIFIED

The Director contends that his position in seeking injunctive relief pursuant to Section

10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act [“NLRA”] was substantially justified because an

injunction was necessaryto preserve the Board’s remedial authoritybypreventing irreparable

harm to employees’ statutory rights:

Petitioner had reasonable cause to believe that Respondents had, inter alia,

unlawfullyrefused to hire employees ofits predecessor and unlawfullyrefused

to recognize and bargain with Union. Petitioner’s case was supported by

affidavits, exhibits, the transcript of the administrative hearing, and, ultimately,

a decision by the Administrative Law Judge.

Petitioner was also substantially justified in his position that injunctive

relief was necessary to preserve the Board’s remedial authority by preventing

4

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 4 of 13
irreparable harm to employees’ statutory right to be represented by their

chosen Union. Petitioner’s position was supported by well-established

precedent recognizing the harms that result from a successor employer’s

refusal to hire employees or recognize their incumbent union as well as by

evidence that Respondents’ actions were having a “chilling” effect on

employees’ willingness to support their Union.

(Doc. 36 at 3.)

The Ridgewoods argue, “[B]ecause the Director lacked specific evidence that the

unfair labor practices alleged were ‘egregious’ or that ‘without such relief, any final order

of the Board will be meaningless or so devoid of force that the remedial purposes of the

NLRA will be frustrated,’ the Director was not ‘substantially justified’ in seeking § 10(j)

relief in this Circuit, and the Court should grant Respondents’ Motion.” (Doc. 37 at 2.)

“The government bears the burden of showing that its position was substantially

justified.” United States v. Jones, 125 F.3d 1418, 1425 (11th Cir. 1997)(quoting City of

Brunswick v. United States, 849 F.2d 501, 504 (11th Cir. 1988)) And, “The government’s

position is substantially justified under the EAJA when it is ‘justified to a degree that would

satisfy a reasonable person’ – i.e. when it has a reasonable basis in both law and fact.” Id. 

(quoting United States v. Douglas, 55 F.3d 584, at 588 (11th Cir. 1995)(quoting Pierce v.

Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988))). “‘[T]he legal merits of the government's position’

does not address simply whether the Government won or lost, because ‘the Government . .

. could take a position that is substantially justified yet lose.’ The issue is not whether the

Government's position was correct but whether it was ‘reasonable,’ which depends largely

on the ‘clarity of the governing law.’” Nat'l Fed'n of Republican Assemblies v. United States,

5

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 5 of 13
263 F. Supp. 2d 1372, 1378 (S.D. Ala. 2003)(quoting Pierce, 487 U.S. at 569). The

government’s position may be “unreasonable under the law of this Circuit,” if it reli[es] on

a legal theory that has been clearly and repeatedly rejected by [the Eleventh Circuit].” 

Enerhaul, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 710 F.2d 748, 751 (11th Cir. 1983).

As set forth in detail in the court’s Memorandum Opinion, the law of this Circuit

requires the Director to show that an interim injunction, pending the final decision of the

NLRB, is “just and proper.” N.L.R.B. v. Hartman & Tyner, Inc., 714 F.3d 1244, 1250 (11th

Cir. 2013)(citing Arlook v. S. Lichtenberg & Co., 952 F.2d 367, 371 (11th Cir. 1992); Boire

v. Pilot Freight Carriers, Inc., 515 F.2d 1185, 1188-89 (5th Cir. 1975)). The former Fifth

Circuit, in a decision binding on this court, held:

Section 10(j) is itself an extraordinary remedy to be used by the Board

only when, in its discretion, an employer or union has committed such

egregious unfair labor practices that any final order of the Board will be

meaningless or so devoid of force that the remedial purposes of the Act will

be frustrated.

Pilot Freight, 515 F.2d at 1192 (5th Cir. 1975)(emphasis added);5see Arlook, 952 F.2d at

374 (“In clarifying the standards governing § 10(j) and reaching a decision in this case, we

do not stray from the principle, followed by our predecessor court and every circuit court

thereafter, that injunctive relief pursuant to § 10(j) is an extraordinary remedy, to be

5The Eleventh Circuit adopted as binding precedent all former Fifth Circuit decisions

issued prior to October 1, 1981, Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.

1981)(en banc), and all former Fifth Circuit Unit B decisions issued after October 1, 1981,

Stein v. Reynolds Sec., Inc., 667 F.2d 33, 34 (11th Cir. 1982).

6

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 6 of 13
requested by the Board and granted by a district court only under very limited

circumstances. That essential principle is what dams the potential flood of § 10(j) injunction

petitions.”)(internal citations omitted; emphasis added). Therefore, under binding circuit

precedent, the mere occurrence of unfair labor practices does not prove those unfair labor

practices are “egregious” or extraordinary deserving of immediate remedial relief.

In this case, the Director did not present evidence of egregious or extraordinary unfair

labor practices. Moreover, he relied on a generalized argument that a § 10(j) injunction was

“just and proper” because (1) this case was a successorship case and (2) other courts had

granted temporary injunctions in successorship cases. The evidence he did cite from the

transcript was largely insufficient to support his argument or actually contradicted his

argument.6 No reasonable person, with knowledge of the facts and the law of this Circuit,

would find the Director’s position was substantially justified.

Therefore, the Ridgewoods’ Motion for Attorneys’ Fees is due to granted.

6For example, in the Memorandum Opinion, the court noted that the Director had

alleged that some “Preferred employees” were “coerced . . . to reveal that they aid Union

dues.” (Doc. 30 at 15 [citing doc. 17 ¶ 17(citing TR Wilbert at 131; TR Davidson Ramos at

150)].) However, the court held, “The evidence cited by the Director shows that five

applicants were questioned, directly or indirectly, about their Union membership, but no

employee was coerced or felt coerced into talking about their Union membership or Union

support. Although the Director asserts that the Ridgewoods coerced job applicants to reveal

Union membership, ‘coercion’ implies a use of force or a threat to compel the person to act.

Absolutely nothing in the record cited by the Director indicates that the interviewers did

anything more than ask and no applicant testified that he or she felt compelled or threatened

to reveal Union membership or support.” (Id. at 16 [emphasis in original].)

7

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 7 of 13
B. REASONABLENESS OF AMOUNT REQUESTED

1. Prepetition Fees

The Director contends:

Respondents’ counsel Ashley Hattaway’s billing records on October 1,

7, 8 and 16, 2014, reflect hours of work that included settlement discussions. 

It is critical to note that Petitioner did not file its petition for injunction until

October 27, 2014. Attorney hours spent prior to the filing of an action in

federal court are not compensable to the extent they reflect efforts to resolve

the underlying administrative matter. See Pollgreen v. Morris, 911 F.2d 527,

533 n. 7 (11th Cir. 1990). Accordingly, to the extent that the activities billed

between October 1 and October 20, 2014, relate to settlement or other

discussion ofthe underlying unfair labor practices, their inclusion in anyEAJA

award related to Section 10(j) litigation is unwarranted. Further, Respondents

claim for reimbursement for Hattaway’s charges on October 3 and 7, 2014, for

time she allegedlyspent “preparing” for an injunction hearing weeks before the

petition seeking such hearing was filed should be disallowed.

(Doc. 36 at 15-16 [footnote omitted; emphasis in original].) In response to the Director’s

opposition, the Ridgewoods reduced their claimfor attorney’s fees for the challenged billable

hours by 2.8 hours to account for time spent negotiating a settlement of this matter; they

argue the remaining time was reasonably spent in defense of this case. (Doc. 37 at 9 and

n.5.) The court agrees. Therefore, no further adjustment is warranted.

“To the extent that [the pre-Petition] hours can be attributed to the civil action, they

are permissible under the EAJA.” Pollgreen v. Morris, 911 F.2d 527, 536 (11th Cir. 1990). 

The court finds that counsel’s time spent in preparation for the hearing on the Director’s

Petition before the Petition was actually filed is time that can be attributed to the civil action. 

As the court gleans from the record, the filing of the § 10(j) Petition was a near certitude

8

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 8 of 13
weeks before the Director actually filed it. Given complicated and crowded calendars,

counsel could not guarantee that, once the court set the hearing, she would have adequate

time to prepare. Certainly, the amount of time claimed to be in preparation for the hearing

is not excessive. Therefore, the court finds no deduction to the claimed hours is warranted

for time spent preparing for the hearing on the Director’s Petition.

2. Post-Petition Hours

The Director objects to 3.4 hours of attorney Carlton Hilson; he argues:

[B]illing records for counsel Carlton Hilson show 2.2 hours on November 7,

2014, for “working on argument re: sanctions and attorneys’ fees under” [the]

EAJA and 1.2 hours on November 12, 2014, for “revisions to Joette Brown’s

affidavit consistent with revisions to facts section of brief.” As above, the

former is not exclusively related to defending against the petitioned-for

injunction, and the latter is a dubious activity not warranting reimbursement. 

Thus, these claims should be disallowed.

(Doc. 36 at 16.)

The law is well settled that “fees for fees” – attorneys’ fees for time spent seeking

EAJA fees – are allowable under the EAJA. Jean v. Nelson, 863 F.2d 759, 779-80 (11th Cir.

1988). “Since [the EAJA] primarily assures prevailing [parties] their reasonable attorney’s

fees, it would be ironic if claiming those very fees – which would have been unnecessary if

not for the government action – was the one act for which a claimant could not receive

compensation.” Id. at 779 (quoting Trichilo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 823

F.2d 702, 707 (2d Cir. 1987)). Therefore, the Eleventh Circuit has held, “It would

contravene Congress's purpose in passing the EAJA to require under all circumstances that

9

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 9 of 13
successful EAJA fee applicants bear the costs of obtaining EAJA fees.” Id. at 780. The

court finds the Director’s objection to these fees as “not exclusively related to defending

against the petitioned-for injunction” is due to be overruled.

The court finds no “dubious activity” regarding the revision to Brown’s affidavit. 

Certainly as a document is drafted and edited changes will be made either to correct errors

found in proofreading or because some facts are removed or added as needed. The court

finds no evidence to suggest that Hilson fabricated Brown’s testimonyor anyother indication

that Brown’s testimony was not true. The court finds no deduction for the time spent

revising Brown’s affidavit is warranted.

Therefore, the court finds that the Ridgewoods are entitled to attorneys’ fees of

$45,824.35, which is 246.5 hours at $185.90 per hour.

3. Paralegal Time

The Director objects to the hours and rate claimed by the Ridgewoods “for work

performed by paralegal Sara E. McAlister.” (Doc. 36 at 17.) He argues:

The Eleventh Circuit has recognized that fees for work by a paralegal may be

recovered under the EAJA to the extent that the paralegal performs work

traditionally done by an attorney. Jean v. Nelson, 863 F.2d 759 (11th Cir.

1988). However, the work [McAlister] performed on January 30, 2015,

“compilation of materials re: Plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration and

[Errata] of same,” appears to be clerical or ministerial in nature, as does the

“electronic filing” she carried out on April 8, 2015. These claims should be 

disallowed.

Most critically, Respondents have not justified the $127.50/hour fee

claimed for paralegal services. To determine the prevailing market rate for

such services, courts consider the customary rate for similar work in the

10

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 10 of 13
community. . . . Accordingly, any fees allowed for paralegal services should

be calculated at a reasonable hourly rate not to exceed $85.

(Id. at 17-18.) In reply, the Ridgewoods contend, “The recent decisions of this court reflect

that $127.50 per hour is a reasonable hourly rate for paralegals. See, e.g., Evans v. Books-AMillion, 907 F. Supp. 2d 1284, 1307-08 (N.D. Ala. 2012)(awarding paralegal a rate of $145

per hour); see also Ruderinan ex rel. Schwartz v. Washington Nat. Ins. Corp., 465 Fed. Appx.

880, 882 (11 th Cir. 2012)(awarding paralegal rate of $125).” (Doc. 37 at 10.) Neither of

the decisions cited by the Ridgewoods involved a claim for fees under the EAJA.

The Eleventh Circuit has held: “In the context of a Title VII case, we have held that

paralegal time is recoverable as ‘part of a prevailing party’s award for attorney’s fees and

expenses, [but] only to the extent that the paralegal performs work traditionally done by an

attorney.’ The same analysis applies [in an EAJA case].” Jean, 863 F.2d 759, 778 (quoting

Allen v. United States Steel Corp., 665 F.2d 689, 697 (5th Cir. Unit B 1982))(emphasis in

Jean).7

Paralegal fees can be recovered “only to the extent that the paralegal performs

work traditionally done by an attorney,” Allen[,] 665 F.2d [at] 697 . . . , which

includes “factual investigation, including locating and interviewing witnesses;

assistance with depositions, interrogatories, and document production;

compilation of statistical and financial data; checking legal citations and

drafting correspondence,” Missouri v. Jenkins, 491 U.S. 274, 288 n. 10, 109

S. Ct. 2463, 105 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1989), but not “clerical work, compilation of

facts and statistics and other work which can often be accomplished by non7Decisions of the former Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rendered prior to October 1,

1981, constitute binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit. Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661

F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.1981) (en banc).

11

Case 6:14-cv-02075-SLB Document 39 Filed 05/18/16 Page 11 of 13
lawyers,” Johnson v. Georgia Hwy. Exp., Inc., 488 F.2d 714, 717 (5th

Cir.1974), abrogated on other grounds by Blanchard v. Bergeron, 489 U.S.

87, 109 S. Ct. 939, 103 L. Ed. 2d 67 (1989).

Williams v. R.W. Cannon, Inc., 657 F. Supp. 2d 1302, 1310-11 (S.D. Fla. 2009).

The Director challenges two entries: (1) “Compilation of materials re: Plaintiff’s

Motion for Reconsideration and Errata of same,” on January 30, 2015, and (2) “Revising

Response to Motion to Supplement Record and electronic filing of same” on April 8, 2015. 

The court finds that these entries appear to be for clerical work, not work traditionally

performed by an attorney. Therefore, the Director’s objections to these hours claimed are

sustained and the Ridgewoods’ Motion for Attorneys’ Fees will be denied as to these hours.

The court notes that the Ridgewoods have not established the “prevailing market rate”

for McAlister. However, Ronald Flowers, counsel for the Ridgewoods, testified that

McAlister had been a paralegal with the firm since 2012 and the $127.50 per hour billed to

the Ridgewoods was a discount of her normal hourly rate. (Doc. 34 at 36, 38.) The Director

contends that $85 per hour is a reasonable rate for McAlister. (Doc. 36 at 18.) Considering

all the circumstances, including rates this court has award other paralegals,8

the court finds

that an hourly rate of $127.50 is reasonable. See Martinez v. Hernando Cty. Sheriff's Office,

579 Fed. Appx. 710, 714 (11th Cir. 2014)(“[T]he district court is entitled to rely on its own

8This court awarded $150 per hour for all work performed a one of several paralegals

performing work in Hall v. Siemens VDO Auto. Elecs. Corp., No. 5:06-CV-1208-SLB, 2014

WL 1329553, *6 (N.D. Ala. Mar. 31, 2014); the reasonable rate for the work of the other

paralegals in that case was set at $100 and $105 per hour, id.

12

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experience and judgment in coming to a reasonable hourly rate.” (citing Norman v. Housing

Auth., 836 F.2d 1292, 1303 (11th Cir. 1988))).9

Therefore, the court finds a reasonable fee for the services rendered bySara McAlister

is $191.25, which is 1.5 hours at $127.50 per hour. 

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the court is of the opinion that the Ridgewoods are entitled

to attorneys’ fees in the amount of $46,015.60. An Order granting in part and denying in part

the Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, (doc, 34), and awarding the Ridgewoods

$46,015.60, representing their attorneys’ fees in this action, will be entered

contemporaneously with this Memorandum Opinion.

DONE this 18th day of May, 2016.

SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

9Eleventh Circuit Rule 36-2 provides, in pertinent part, “An opinion shall be

unpublished unless a majority of the panel decides to publish it. Unpublished opinions are

not considered binding precedent, but they may be cited as persuasive authority.” 11th Cir.

R. 36-2 (emphasis added).

13

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