Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_04-cv-01699/USCOURTS-azd-2_04-cv-01699-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 441
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Voting
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Ralph Nader, et al.,

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

Janice Brewer, in her official capacity as

Secretary of State, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV-04-1699-PHX-FJM

ORDER

We now have before us, Nader’s motion for reconsideration of our order awarding

attorneys’ fees (doc. 89), and Nader’s supplemental motion for attorneys’ fees and costs (doc.

90), defendant’s response (doc. 91), and Nader’s reply (doc. 92).

I. Motion for Reconsideration

Nader asks us to reconsider our order granting in part and denying in part Nader’s

motion for fees and costs (doc. 87). Specifically, Nader asks us to reconsider our conclusion

that we lacked authority to rule on Nader’s request for fees related to the 2008 appeal

because the Ninth Circuit had not transferred the matter to us pursuant to Ninth Circuit Rule

39-1.8. The Ninth Circuit has since issued an order granting Nader’s motion for attorney’s

fees related to the 2008 appeal and remanding the matter to us for determination of the

appropriate amount of fees. Therefore, Nader’s motion for reconsideration is granted (doc.

89). 

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In his original motion for attorneys’ fees, Nader sought recovery for 187.8 total hours

of attorneys’ fees, and 60.20 hours in paralegal fees related to the 2008 appeal. We will

award fees only for “the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation.” Blum v.

Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 888, 104 S. Ct. 1541, 1544 (1984). We think that the number of

claimed hours related to the 2008 appeal is excessive given that the arguments and authorities

presented on appeal were essentially the same as those relied upon in the district court.

Barnes and Bernhoft performed the work in the district court and were fully familiar with the

relevant issues and law by the time they filed the 2008 appeal. Moreover, the request for fees

includes fees for inadequately described services, secretarial services, and for travel time, all

of which are generally not recoverable. Therefore, we reduce the total hours of attorneys’

fees to 140 and the paralegal hours to 30. 

In our earlier order (doc. 87), we concluded that $200 is an appropriate hourly rate for

attorneys’ fees based on Barnes and Bernhoft’s experience, skill, and reputation. We also

relied upon the official statistics from the State Bar of Arizona’s 2007 study on the

economics of law practice in Arizona submitted by Barnes and Bernhoft as evidence of the

prevailing market rate in Arizona. We also concluded that $90 is an appropriate hourly rate

for paralegal services. Therefore, fees related to the 2008 appeal are awarded in the total

amount of $30,700. 

Nader also seeks to recover $2,638.34 in travel expenses related to the 2008 appeal,

which includes $1,105.00 for a two-night stay in San Francisco, although the argument

before the Ninth Circuit concluded before noon, as well as chauffeur services in excess of

$438.00, and $817.01 labeled simply “travel expense.” These costs are both excessive and

inadequately described. Therefore, we reduce allowable costs to $800.00. 

We grant Nader’s motion for fees and costs related to the 2008 appeal in the total

amount of $31,500.

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II. Supplemental Motion for Fees and Costs

Nader also seeks a supplemental award of attorneys’ fees and non-taxable costs

related to work performed between November 17, 2008 and March 23, 2009, including

preparation of the attorneys’ fee motion and in defending against defendant’s petition for writ

of certiorari. Nader seeks fees for an additional 108.9 total hours for services performed by

attorneys Barnes and Bernhoft, and 49.8 hours for paralegal/attorney Treuden’s services,

including 30.3 hours as a paralegal, and 19.5 hours as a lawyer after his admission to the bar.

Defendant does not challenge the number of claimed hours.

As noted above, we have determined that $200 is an appropriate hourly rate for

attorneys and $90 for paralegals. We also conclude that $125 is an appropriate hourly rate

for Treuden’s services following his admission to the practice of law.

Based on the foregoing, Nader’s motion for an award of supplemental attorneys’ fees

is granted in the total amount of $26,944.50, and non-taxable costs in the amount of

$6,703.50, for a total award of $33,648.00.

IT IS ORDERED GRANTING Nader’s motion for reconsideration and granting fees

and costs related to the 2008 appeal in the amount of $31,500 (doc. 89).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED GRANTING Nader’s supplemental motion for fees

and costs in the amount of $33,648.00 (doc. 90). 

DATED this 27th day of July, 2009.

Case 2:04-cv-01699-FJM Document 93 Filed 07/28/09 Page 3 of 3