Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_02-cv-03792/USCOURTS-cand-5_02-cv-03792-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 15:1125 Trademark Infringement (Lanham Act)

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 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited.

Case No. C 02-3792 JF (PVT)

ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AS PART OF CONTEMPT SANCTION

(JFLC2)

**E-Filed 5/17/06**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

U2 HOME ENTERTAINMENT, INC., et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

 v.

GATECHINA.COM, INC., et al.,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 02-3792 JF (PVT)

ORDER1 AWARDING ATTORNEYS’

FEES AS PART OF CONTEMPT

SANCTION

On May 8, 2006, the Court issued an order granting in part Plaintiffs’ motion for civil

contempt sanctions. The Court concluded that an appropriate sanction was $10,000 plus

Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees in litigating the contempt motion, and directed Plaintiffs to

file a declaration setting forth the reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in bringing the contempt

motion. The Court has received the requested declaration, Defendants’ objections thereto, and

Plaintiffs’ reply declaration.

Based upon the reply declaration of Ory B. Sandel, Plaintiffs incurred the following

Case 5:02-cv-03792-JF Document 88 Filed 05/17/06 Page 1 of 3
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 Mr. Idell’s declaration filed May 12, 2006 states that Mr. Idell spent 18.4 hours on the

contempt motion, but the reply declaration of Ory Sandel filed May 16, 2006 clarifies that Mr.

Idell inadvertently overstated the number of hours he spent preparing for and taking Mr. Lin’s

deposition. Based upon Mr. Sandel’s reply declaration the Court has adjusted Mr. Idell’s hours

to 14.4.

3

 Mr. Idell’s declaration filed May 12, 2006 states that Ms. DeFonte spent 17.4 hours at

$185 per hour, but then incorrectly multiplies these two numbers to arrive at a charge of $6,438

for Ms. DeFonte’s time. According to the Court’s calculations, 17.4 hours multiplied by a rate of

$185 results in a charge of $3,219.

4

 Mr. Idell’s declaration filed May 12, 2006 states that Mr. Sandel spent 23.8 hours on the

contempt motion, but Mr. Sandel’s reply declaration filed May 16, 2006 states that Mr. Sandel

spent 23.3 hours. 

2

Case No. C 02-3792 JF (PVT)

ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AS PART OF CONTEMPT SANCTION

(JFLC2)

attorneys’ fees in litigating the contempt motion: Mr. Idell spent 14.4 hours2 at $425 per hour

($6,120), Ms. DeFonte spent 17.4 hours at $185 per hour ($3,219),3 and Mr. Sandel spent 23.34

hours at $165 per hour ($3,844.5), for total attorneys’ fees spent litigating the contempt motion in

the amount of $13,183.50.

The Court concludes that these fees were reasonably incurred for the most part. The

Court will reduce the fees slightly, however, based upon its conclusion that Plaintiffs

unreasonably took an extreme position with respect to contempt sanctions, and expended

resources in trying to persuade the Court that a sanctions award in excess of $5 million was

warranted when clearly such an award was not warranted under the circumstances of this case. 

The Court therefore will reduce the attorneys’ fees to $12,000.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs are awarded $12,000 in reasonable attorneys’

fees as part of the contempt sanction imposed by this Court’s order of May 8, 2006. 

DATED: 5/17/06

__________________________________

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

Case 5:02-cv-03792-JF Document 88 Filed 05/17/06 Page 2 of 3
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Case No. C 02-3792 JF (PVT)

ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AS PART OF CONTEMPT SANCTION

(JFLC2)

This Order was served on the following persons:

Alfredo A. Bismonte abismonte@mount.com, bshih@mount.com; mmcmanus@mount.com

Patricia De Fonte Patricia.DeFonte@ibslaw.com, liz.torres@ibslaw.com;

richard.idell@ibslaw.com

Richard J. Idell richard.idell@ibslaw.com, patricia.defonte@ibslaw.com;

june.hight@ibslaw.com; liz.torres@ibslaw.com; ory.sandel@ibslaw.com

Jennifer A. Marone jennymarone@yahoo.com

Tiffany W. Tai tai@brtlawyers.com

Case 5:02-cv-03792-JF Document 88 Filed 05/17/06 Page 3 of 3