Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_12-cv-05979/USCOURTS-cand-3_12-cv-05979-27/pdf.json

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

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAUL F. SOARES,

Plaintiff,

v.

JEFFREY LORONO, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 12-cv-05979-WHO 

ORDER RE: ATTORNEYS’ FEES

Re: Dkt. No. 342

This consolidated case consists of two proceedings. First, Paul F. Soares brought a civil 

proceeding in this Court against Jeffrey Lorono, Lisa Lorono, Salinas Valley Roofing 

Incorporated (“SVR”), Adolfo Rangel, and Village Heating and Sheet Metal (“Village”) 

(collectively, “defendants”) for breach of contract, breach of warranty, and fraud. Memorandum 

Opinion (“Opinion”) at 1-2 (Dkt. No. 335). Second, SVR and Village brought an adversary 

complaint against Soares in bankruptcy court, seeking non-dischargeability of Soares’s debt to 

them. Id. I heard both matters in a bench trial on December 8, 2014, and issued judgment in favor 

of the defendants in both the civil and adversary proceedings. Id. at 2-3. 

Pursuant to my opinion, SVR moves for attorneys’ fees in the amount of $328,960.00 “for 

fees incurred in Pre-Petition and Post-Petition claims and litigation.” Dkt. No. 342 at 1. The 

motion for attorneys’ fees is currently scheduled for hearing on March 25, 2015. I find this matter 

appropriate for resolution without oral argument and VACATE the hearing. CIV. L.R. 7-1(b). 

That said, I am confused by the pending motion. David Hollingsworth represented the 

defendants in both proceedings. Exhibit A to the attorneys’ fees motion details Hollingsworth’s 

work in connection with his representation of SVR. Dkt. No. 343-1. However, it also reflects the 

work done for the other defendants in this case, and does not differentiate between hours billed 

done on behalf of the different clients. Nor does it separate billings related to the civil proceeding 

Case 3:12-cv-05979-WHO Document 370 Filed 03/12/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

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from those related to the bankruptcy proceeding. 

Under the rules of bankruptcy, attorneys’ fees are typically awarded where an underlying 

contract has an attorneys’ fees provision. See Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of Am. v. Pac. Gas & 

Elec. Co., 549 U.S. 443, 443 (2007). In this case, the only contracts at issue involved SVR and 

Village. The Settlement Agreement between Soares and SVR included an attorneys’ fees 

provision. The contract with Village was oral and there is no evidence that the agreement 

contemplated attorneys’ fees. 

SVR has indicated only that it is entitled to fees relating to its enforcement of the 

Settlement Agreement in state court and in bankruptcy court. It has not requested fees related to 

the defense of the civil proceeding brought by Soares in this Court. 

In order to obtain attorneys’ fees, SVR must file billing records that reflect only the work 

done on behalf of SVR, separate from the other defendants in this case. It must do so within 7

days of this order. In addition, the records must differentiate between work related to the 

adversary proceeding and work related to the civil proceeding. SVR’s billings from the 

bankruptcy proceeding should also indicate which fees accrued before the petition in the 

bankruptcy court, and which fees accrued post-petition. 

If SVR believes that it is entitled to attorneys’ fees related to its defense of the civil 

proceeding, or if any other defendants wish to request attorneys’ fees, each must submit a 

declaration of no more than 5 pages indicating the basis for such fees within 7 days of this order. 

Each defendant should also submit separate billing records at the same time. 

Defendants also seek exemplary damages, presumably related only to the bankruptcy 

proceeding, but have not specified the legal basis for these damages. Dkt. No. 342 at 2. They 

must submit a declaration describing the basis for exemplary damages within 7 days of this order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 12, 2015

______________________________________

WILLIAM H. ORRICK

United States District Judge

Case 3:12-cv-05979-WHO Document 370 Filed 03/12/15 Page 2 of 2