Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_01-cv-02231/USCOURTS-caed-2_01-cv-02231-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JENNIFER ALLAN, )

) NO. CV S-01-2231 GEB GGH

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) 

) ORDER

CITY OF MARYSVILLE, et al., ) 

)

Defendants. )

)

Several prevailing Defendants filed motions for attorney’s

fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988, arguing that Plaintiff’s claims against

them were frivolous. Attorney’s fees can be awarded to a prevailing

party if the plaintiff’s claim is found to be frivolous, unreasonable,

or without foundation. Saman v. Robbins, 173 F.3d 1150, 1157 (9th

Cir. 1999).

The movants’ respective requests for attorney’s fees assume

that all of Plaintiff’s claims were frivolous, even though certain

claims were not. Even assuming certain movants’ entitlement to

attorney’s fees on the arguable claims that lacked sufficient

foundation, the precise amount of attorney’s fees a prevailing movant

could receive has not been specified – the respective motions each

Case 2:01-cv-02231-GEB -KJM Document 288 Filed 06/14/05 Page 1 of 2
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seek a total fee award irregardless of the fact that nonfrivolous

claims were tried. Therefore, each attorney’s fees motion is denied. 

Cf. Jensen v. Stangel, 762 F.2d 815, 818 (9th Cir. 1985) (upholding

the denial of attorney’s fees for a frivolous claim in part because

“the record contains no information showing how much of the total fees

related to the [frivolous claim].”).

The prevailing Defendants move for sanctions under the

court’s inherent power and Rule 11 and 28 U.S.C. § 1927. Those

motions are denied because sanctions under this authority have not

been shown to be justified.

For the stated reasons, the motions are denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 13, 2005

/s/ Garland E. Burrell, Jr.

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:01-cv-02231-GEB -KJM Document 288 Filed 06/14/05 Page 2 of 2