Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-02574/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-02574-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 422
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Appeals Rule 28 USC 158
Cause of Action: 28:0158 Notice of Appeal re Bankruptcy Matter (BAP)

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Elegant Custom Homes, Inc., et al., 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Elaine M. Dusharm, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV-06-2574-PHX-DGC

ORDER

Appellee has filed a motion for attorneys’ fees. Dkt. #40. Appellants have filed an

objection. Dkt. #44. Appellee has replied. Dkt. #45. For the reasons that follow, the Court

will grant the motion. 

Appellee requests an award of the attorneys’ fees incurred in Appellants’ appeal from

the judgment of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. Dkt. #40

at 2. The judgment was affirmed by this Court as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Id. Appellee has filed this motion pursuant to Local Rule 54.2 and followed the guidelines

set out by the rule, including discussing the 13 factors required to demonstrate the

reasonableness of the requested award and attaching both a Statement of Consultation and

a Task-Based Itemized Statement of Fee. Id. 

Appellants do not dispute that Appellee is entitled to attorneys’ fees, but argue that

9.2 hours of interviews/conferences and 28.9 hours to prepare the fee application is

Case 2:06-cv-02574-DGC Document 46 Filed 04/23/09 Page 1 of 2
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excessive. Dkt. #44. Appellants do not provide any citations to where these numbers can

be found in Appellee’s materials. Appellants argue that no more than 19 hours is reasonable

based on the necessary tasks. Id. They provide no authority or explanation for this assertion.

Having reviewed the motion, the Court determines that the requested award for

attorneys’ fees is reasonable. Contrary to Appellants’ assertion, Appellee only requests 3.3

hours for preparation of the motion for attorneys’ fees. Dkt. #45 at 2. The 9.2 hours billed

for conferences is reasonable as more than half of the work performed on the appeal was

performed by an associate attorney or paralegal in order to keep costs low. Dkt. #40 at 3-4.

The Court also notes that Appellee is requesting an award at the deeply discounted rates of

$125.00 for lead counsel, $75.00 for associate counsel, and $70.00 for paralegal. 

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Appellee’s motion for attorneys’ fees is granted.

2. The Clerk shall enter judgment in favor of Appellee and against

Appellants in the amount of $13,866.00.

DATED this 23rd day of April, 2009.

Case 2:06-cv-02574-DGC Document 46 Filed 04/23/09 Page 2 of 2