Employer objects to the itemization of six telephone conversations totalling 1.4 hours, which Counsel for Complainants alleges were made to Counsel for the Employer with reference to this matter. In view of the itemized nature of each of the telephone conversations and recognizing the conflict with reference to the number and the amount of time spent, the 1.4 hours claimed for such purposes is reduced to one hour. Counsel for Employer additionally objects to the unreasonable amount of time claimed in the amount of ten hours for the reading of the trial transcript and deposition transcripts which were taken post-trial at the request of Counsel for Employer. This amount of time does not appear to be unreasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the objections of Counsel for the Employer. An objection is further lodged to the amount of time spent in research and preparation of a Memorandum of Points and Authorities and Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law which Counsel for Complainants asserts took twenty-four hours.
Employer objects to such an amount of time claimed as being unreasonable.
I disagree and find that the amount of time claimed was reasonable under the circumstances of the case, the length of the trial and the number and length of depositions taken by Counsel for the Employer after trial. This objection is valid and such an hourly rate is excessive. In the aforesaid decisions, the court, in great detail enumerates the factors to be considered in the award of reasonable attorneys fees and all of the said factors as set forth by the court are incorporated herein by reference. Counsel for Complainants' did an excellent job on behalf of his clients considering that the case was novel for him and the limited period of time which he had to prepare for the matter. It is also clear that he underestimated the amount of time that the case would take for trial and the amount of work which would be involved post-trial in view of the fee quotations which he gave to each of the Complainants herein.