Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-00991/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-00991-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:4321 Review of Agency Action-Environment

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LEAGUE FOR COASTAL PROTECTION, et

al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary of the

Interior, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 05-0991-CW

ORDER GRANTING

PLAINTIFFS'

SUPPLEMENTAL

MOTION FOR 

ATTORNEYS' FEES 

On December 22, 2006, the Court awarded Plaintiffs $185,230.18

in interim attorneys' fees and costs. Plaintiffs now seek

attorneys' fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28

U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A), for time expended in recovering that award. 

They note that, although Plaintiffs' attorneys have spent 81.2

hours in the process of recovering fees, they seek recovery for

only seventy hours of time, for a total award of $11,200.

Defendants acknowledge that a party may move for an award of

fees incurred in seeking fees claimed for the underlying merits

dispute. See Love v. Reilly, 924 F.2d 1492, 1497 (9th Cir. 1991)

Case 4:05-cv-00991-CW Document 72 Filed 03/29/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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("the prevailing party is automatically entitled to attorney's fees

for any fee litigation once the district court has made a

determination that the government's position lacks substantial

justification"). Nonetheless, they contend that this motion is

premature because an appeal is pending, an argument that the Court

rejected when it awarded Plaintiffs interim attorneys' fees and

costs. Defendants also argue that the time spent by Plaintiffs is

unreasonable and ask that the Court reduce Plaintiffs' requested

amount by fifty percent. That argument is not persuasive. The

Court finds that the seventy hours expended by Plaintiffs' counsel

is reasonable and it will award the amount Plaintiffs request.

Plaintiffs' Supplemental Motion for Attorneys' Fees (Docket

No. 62) is granted. Defendants shall pay Plaintiffs $11,200 for

their attorney time spent recovering fees under the EAJA. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 3/29/07 

CLAUDIA WILKEN

United States District Judge

Case 4:05-cv-00991-CW Document 72 Filed 03/29/07 Page 2 of 2