Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-04301/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-04301-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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1

 The matter was stayed as to Michael Kofman due to his bankruptcy proceedings.

*E-filed 10/1/07*

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

SOFTWAREWORKS GROUP, INC.,

Plaintiff,

 v.

IHOSTING, INC., WEBHOSTING PLUS,

INC., and MICHAEL KOFMAN,

Defendants. /

Case No. C06-04301 HRL

ORDER ON MOTION FOR

ATTORNEY'S FEES

Re: Docket Nos. 77, 78

Plaintiff Softwareworks Group ("SWG") moves for an award of attorney's fees. SWG

submitted its declaration of counsel setting forth the costs and attorney's fees.

BACKGROUND

This suit resulted from a soured business deal. During the course of litigation,

Defendants ceased contact with this court and their attorneys. Eventually, their answers were

stricken and default judgment was entered against Defendants, iHosting, Inc and Webhosting

Plus, Inc.1

 That judgment was deemed a partial final judgment under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 54(b) and accordingly amended. [Docket No. 74]. The judgment awarded costs and

attorneys' fees, the amount to be determined after judgment was entered. 

Case 5:06-cv-04301-HRL Document 82 Filed 10/01/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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2 Welch v. Metropolitan Life Ins., 480 F.3d 942 (9th Cir. 2007) (emphasizing district

court's authority to reduce block billed hours, reasoning that court cannot determine whether

fee applicant has met evidentiary burden when multiple tasks are lumped together). 

3

 Mills, a licensed attorney, was able to work on discovery preparation and other

matters which were not included in the attorney fee calculation. 

2

DISCUSSION

While Maines' hourly rate is reasonable, some discussion of the hours claimed and the

tasks associated with those hours is warranted. To begin, some of the legal services claimed at

Maines' hourly rate could probably have been performed by an associate attorney or paralegal. 

However, it is very difficult to assess the reasonableness of time spent on discrete tasks because

counsel utilized block billing, often in very large blocks of time.2

 To further complicate

matters, counsel claims an amount in his declaration which slightly exceeds that reflected in

attached billing statements. This discrepancy is not explained or addressed in the declaration. 

On the other hand, this was a complicated case both legally and procedurally. 

Furthermore, counsel worked with the head of SWG, John Mills, in order to limit the work

performed by Maines, and consequently the attorney's fees.3

 

After due consideration of the reasonableness of the fee request, the court GRANTS

Plaintiff's motion IN PART. An award of attorneys fees and costs in the amount of $110,000 is

ORDERED to be paid. This determination of the fee amount is made pursuant to the Partial

Final Judgment's incorporation of fee award. Accordingly, even though the judgment

adjudicated fewer than all of plaintiff's claims against fewer than all of the defendants, the court

expressly determines there is no just reason to delay collection of this fee award. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 10/1/07 

HOWARD R. LLOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 5:06-cv-04301-HRL Document 82 Filed 10/01/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THIS ORDER WILL BE ELECTRONICALLY

MAILED TO:

Lael D. Andara landara@ropers.com, aslanlair@ropers.com, lkoozmin@ropers.com,

mmcpherson@ropers.com 

Robert P. Andris randris@ropers.com, lkoozmin@ropers.com, mmcpherson@ropers.com 

Robert Lloyd Maines maines@robertmaineslaw.net, jmills@OMM.com 

*Counsel are responsible for transmitting this order to co-counsel who have not signed

up for e-filing.

Dated: 10/1/07 /s/ KRO 

 Chambers of Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd

Case 5:06-cv-04301-HRL Document 82 Filed 10/01/07 Page 3 of 3