Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01173/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01173-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgement (Insurance)

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1 07cv1173 BTM(ABJ)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RADY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, SAN

DIEGO,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07cv1173 BTM(AJB)

ORDER SETTING AMOUNT OF

SANCTIONS

v.

SERVICE EMPLOYEES

INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL 2028;

SERVICE EMPLOYEES

INTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED

HEALTHCARE WORKERS – WEST; and

DOES 1-10,

Defendants.

In an order filed on May 5, 2008, the Court granted SEIU, United Healthcare Workers

– West’s (“UHW”) motion for Rule 11 sanctions and granted Service Employees International

Union, Local 2028's (“Local 2028") motion for attorney’s fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1927. The

Court ordered the parties to file supplemental papers regarding the amount of attorney’s fees

and costs incurred in connection with the filing of the motions to dismiss and the motions for

sanctions.

Local 2028's counsel has submitted billing records showing that a total of $8,610.00

in attorney’s fees (24.60 hours x $350 per hour) were incurred in connection with the motion

to dismiss and motion for sanctions. Plaintiff does not dispute the reasonableness of the

hourly rate. However, Plaintiff points out that approximately two hours of the billed time can

Case 3:07-cv-01173-BTM-AJB Document 50 Filed 06/23/08 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2 07cv1173 BTM(ABJ)

be attributed to work performed in connection with the motion for Rule 11 sanctions only (as

opposed to the motion for attorney’s fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1927). These fees are not

recoverable. Subtracting these two hours, Local 2028's counsel billed 22.60 hours in

connection with the motion to dismiss and motion for sanctions. These hours are more than

reasonable. Therefore, Local 2028's award is $7,910.00 (22.6 hours x $350 per hour). 

According to the billing records of UHW’s counsel, UHW incurred $15,031.25 in

attorney’s fees, $232.50 in paralegal fees, and $150.32 in costs in connection with the motion

to dismiss and motion for sanctions. As for the attorney’s fees, the Court finds the hourly rate

of $325 per hour, which Plaintiff does not challenge, to be reasonable. Upon review of the

billing records and the papers filed in connection with UHW’s motion to dismiss and motion

for sanctions, the Court also finds that the amount of time billed (46.25 hours) was

reasonable. Among other things, UHW’s counsel researched new issues raised by the First

Amended Complaint, drafted and revised a seventeen-page brief in support of UHW’s motion

to dismiss, drafted and revised a ten-page brief in support of its motion for sanctions,

researched and drafted a ten-page reply in support of UHW’s motion to dismiss, and

prepared the supplemental declaration on the issue of attorney’s fees. The 46.25 hours

billed for the performance of this work is not excessive. UHW also requests an additional .75

hours in fees for drafting a three-paragraph reply to Plaintiff’s response to UHW’s declaration

regarding attorney’s fees. The Court does not grant these additional fees because the reply

was not necessary and did not aid the Court in its resolution of the issues. Therefore, the

amount of attorney’s fees awarded to UHW is $15,031.25.

UHW also seeks paralegal fees in the amount of $232.50. The Court finds that the

hourly rate of $155.00 is excessive for the paralegal work involved here and finds that $80

is a reasonable hourly rate. In addition, the Court deducts from the award .5 hours spent for

“review of applicable rules to determine due dates triggered by Order dismissing First

Amended Complaint and granting UHW’s motion for Attorney’s Fees.” The Court’s Order set

forth the date by which the supplemental declarations regarding the attorney’s fees were

required to be filed. It is unclear what other dates needed to be determined. Therefore,

Case 3:07-cv-01173-BTM-AJB Document 50 Filed 06/23/08 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3 07cv1173 BTM(ABJ)

UHW may recover one hour of paralegal time at the rate of $80 per hour, for a total of $80.

 The Court denies UHW’s claimed costs. UHW claims $85.50 for ”fax filing” on

January 9, 2008. However, UHW’s motion to dismiss was electronically filed on January 8,

2008, and there is no filing fee for a motion to dismiss. UHW also claims $56.34 in overnight

delivery charges for courtesy copies to Chambers and $8.48 for Pacer research. The Court

does not find these costs to be necessary. 

Accordingly, the Court awards UHW Rule 11 sanctions in the amount of $15,111.25

and awards Local 2028 attorney’s fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1927 in the amount of $7,910.00.

Plaintiff’s counsel shall pay these amounts to UHW and Local 2028 forthwith. The Clerk shall

enter judgment accordingly.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 23, 2008

Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-01173-BTM-AJB Document 50 Filed 06/23/08 Page 3 of 3