Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-01911/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-01911-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 290
Nature of Suit: Other Real Property Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Citizenship

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Wells Fargo Bank, NA, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Corte Freccia I, LLC, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV 08-1911-PHX-MHM

ORDER

The Court has previously determined that Plaintiff Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is entitled

to an award of fees from Defendant Corte Freccia I, LLC (“Corte Freccia”) and its Counsel,

Mr. James P. Armstrong, under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) and Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure. (See Dkt.#32). The Court’s earlier Order indicated that Corte Freccia and

Mr. Armstrong would each be liable for one-half of the fees that Wells Fargo incurred

fighting the improper removal initiated by Defendant Corte Freccia and its Counsel Mr.

Armstrong. The Court also indicated that an award of fees would be appropriate due to the

aberrant behavior demonstrated by Defendant and its Counsel following the filing of Wells

Fargo’s Motion for Sanctions. However, due to questions regarding Wells Fargo’s fee

application, the Court directed Wells Fargo to submit a revised fee application that includes

only those costs associated with the federal proceedings and not the related state court

litigation. 

Case 2:08-cv-01911-MHM Document 41 Filed 07/29/10 Page 1 of 3
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Wells Fargo has now submitted its revised fee application, (Dkt.#33), and objections

to this application have also been filed by Defendant and its Counsel. (Dkt.#37). Defendant

and its Counsel submitted an additional Motion to Strike the Amended Affidavit of Brian

Palmer. On May 4, 2010, the Court denied this Motion to Strike, noting that the arguments

contained in the briefing were better characterized as substantive objections to the requested

fee award and the Motion did not set forth justifications for the Court to strike the amended

affidavit from its docket. (See Dkt.#40). As such, the Court noted that it would consider the

arguments contained in the Motion to Strike when assessing the proposed fee award. (Id.)

As the Court previously noted, under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c), only reasonable costs will

be compensated, and “[t]he Court’s directive to the plaintiff to present evidence of [its] just

costs and expenses [is] not an invitation to indulge in overreaching.” See Mehney-Egan v.

Mendoza, 130 F. Supp. 2d 884, 885 (E.D. Mich. 2001). While the Court strives to avoid

micromanaging an attorney’s fee schedule, when a party submits a request for compensation,

it triggers the Court’s duty to ensure that the fees levied against the opposition are fair and

reasonable. After reviewing the revised fee application, the Court is of the firm opinion that

any questions regarding the overall reasonableness of the fees incurred by Wells Fargo have

been adequately addressed in the revised fee application. As such, the Court will grant Wells

Fargo’s fee application and award it attorneys’ fees totaling $19, 703.50, one-half of which

will be paid by Corte Freccia, LLC, and one-half of which will be paid by its Counsel Mr.

Mr. James Armstrong. To the extent Corte Freccia and Mr. Armstrong contest the

reasonableness of the fees incurred, the Court must note that the unjustifiable conduct of

Defendant and its Counsel were the sole cause of the increased cost of litigating this matter,

including all post-remand costs incurred by Wells Fargo. The Court has reviewed all of the

relevant documents submitted by Wells Fargo, including their Counsel’s fee records and

general billing methods. The Court finds nothing objectionable to the rate that was charged

or the amount of time that was spent. 

/ / / 

Case 2:08-cv-01911-MHM Document 41 Filed 07/29/10 Page 2 of 3
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Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED directing Defendant Corte Freccia I, LLC and its

Counsel Mr. James P. Armstrong to pay attorneys’ fees to Plaintiff Wells Fargo Bank, NA

in the total amount of $19,703.50.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Corte Freccia I, LLC shall be liable

for one-half of the awarded fees, or $9,851.75.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Counsel for Defendant, Mr. James P. Armstrong

shall be liable for one-half of the awarded fees, or $9,851.75.

DATED this 28th day of July, 2010.

Case 2:08-cv-01911-MHM Document 41 Filed 07/29/10 Page 3 of 3