Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20100416_0005211.ECA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-12-11 23:09:17
Document Index: 384203543

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1332', '§386', 'art 3', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 9']

ORDER RE: MOTION FOR ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IN INTERPLEADER AND MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS
Plaintiff State Farm Life Insurance Company ("State Farm") insured the life of Matthew Brockett for a number of years. Rachel Botkin and Matthew Brockett married in 2002. Joshua Brockett, Danelle Brockett, Nicholas Brockett, and Kathryn Brockett (collectively the "Brockett Children") are Matthew Brockett's children by a previous marriage. On August 7, 2006, the life insurance policy was increased to $500,000, with Rachel Brocket to receive $380,000, and the Brockett Children to receive $30,000 each. Matthew and Rachel Brockett separated in early 2008. On March 11, 2008, Matthew Brockett filed for divorce. On April 8, 2008, Matthew and Rachel Brockett signed a Marital Settlement Agreement ("MSA"). The MSA included language concerning life insurance proceeds. On June 24, the Fresno County Superior Court entered a judgment of dissolution incorporating the MSA and specifying that Matthew and Rachel Brockett would become single persons on September 25. Matthew Brockett obtained and signed a change of beneficiary form which removed Rachel Brockett and named the Brockett Children as sole beneficiaries; however, he never mailed it in. Matthew Brockett died on September 15, 2008. Rachel Brockett claims $380,000 of the life insurance proceeds. The Brockett Children claim all $500,000 of the life insurance proceeds.
On February 26, 2009, State Farm filed suit against Rachel Brockett and the Brockett Children on an interpleader theory in the Eastern District of California. State Farm brought suit based on diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §1332. State Farm is a citizen of Illinois; Rachel Brockett and the Brockett Children are citizens of California; and the amount in controversy is $380,000. State Farm has also deposited the entire life insurance payment of $512,217.70 ($500,000 plus interest) with the Clerk of the Court. The parties discussed whether a stipulation to dismiss State Farm and move the case to state court could be achieved. They could not reach an agreement.
State Farm has now moved for $18,200 in fees and costs and to be dismissed from this suit as it has no claim on the insurance proceeds at issue. Doc. 22, Motion in Judgment in Interpleader and Doc. 23, State Farm's Brief, at 5:2. Rachel Brockett and the Brockett Children agree to dismiss State Farm from this case. Docs. 33 and 50. The Brockett Children do not oppose the amount State Farm seeks to recover for attorneys' fees and costs. Doc. 50. Rachel Brockett asks the court to limit the amount to $5,000. Doc. 33, Rachel Brockett's Opposition, at 1:28. The matter was taken under submission without oral argument.
"Any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity against whom double or multiple claims are made, or may be made, by two or more persons which are such that they may give rise to double or multiple liability, may bring an action against the claimants to compel them to interplead and litigate their several claims." Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 386(b). That party can then "apply to the court for an order discharging him from liability and dismissing him from the action on his depositing with the clerk of the court the amount in dispute and the court may, in its discretion, make such order." Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 386.5. "A party to an action who follows the procedure set forth in Section 386 or 386.5 may insert in his motion, petition, complaint, or cross complaint a request for allowance of his costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred in such action. In ordering the discharge of such party, the court may, in its discretion, award such party his costs and reasonable attorney fees from the amount in dispute which has been deposited with the court." Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §386.6(a).
Under diversity jurisdiction, Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938) applies so California law must be consulted. See Asbury v. Mitchell, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9293, *7-8 (E.D. Cal. June 18, 1997). "[T]he fee setting inquiry in California ordinarily begins with the 'lodestar,' i.e., the number of hours reasonably expended multiplied by the reasonable hourly rate. California courts have consistently held that a computation of time spent on a case and the reasonable value of that time is fundamental to a determination of an appropriate attorneys' fee award. The reasonable hourly rate is that prevailing in the community for similar work. The lodestar figure may then be adjusted, based on consideration of factors specific to the case, in order to fix the fee at the fair market value for the legal services provided. Such an approach anchors the trial court's analysis to an objective determination of the value of the attorney's services, ensuring that the amount awarded is not arbitrary." PLCM Group, Inc. v. Drexler, 22 Cal. 4th 1084, 1095 (Cal. 2000), citations and quotations omitted. "The lodestar adjustment method...has also been widely applied by the Courts of Appeal under a broad range of statutes authorizing attorney fees...The Legislature appears to have endorsed the lodestar adjustment method of calculating fees, except in certain limited situations. When the Legislature has determined that the lodestar adjustment approach is not appropriate, it has expressly so stated. Thus, in 1993, it amended Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5 to provide that attorney fees awarded to a public entity under the section 'shall not be increased or decreased by a multiplier based upon extrinsic circumstances...' Its express restriction on the use of fee enhancements therein can be read as an implicit endorsement of their use in other contexts." Ketchum v. Moses, 24 Cal. 4th 1122, 1134-35 (Cal. 2001), citations and quotations omitted. Section 386.6 does not specify how attorneys' fees are to be calculated, so the default lodestar method will be used.
Of significance is the fact that any award of fees under Section 386.6 is discretionary. "This grant of discretion tracks federal law with respect to the award of fees in an interpleader." Law Offices of Jonathan Stein v. Cadle Co., 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14162, *4 (C.D. Cal. 1999); see also Anchor Brewing Co. v. Peix, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18428, *5 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 28, 2007). "While the Ninth Circuit has announced a general rule that a plaintiff should receive fees for his or her actions in interpleading, courts have also looked to number of other factors in tailoring that broad rule. The Rutter Group's California Practice Guide to Civil Procedure Before Trial notes that courts have considered, among other things: the necessity of the services, the diligence in pursuing a remedy, the degree to which the determination is part of the stakeholder's ordinary cost of doing business, whether the interested stakeholder acted for his or her own benefit, and the relationship of the activity to preservation of the fund." Law Offices of Jonathan Stein v. Cadle Co., 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14162, *5 (C.D. Cal. 1999), citations omitted. "[T]he trial court may rely on its own experience and knowledge in determining the reasonable value of the attorney's services." Niederer v. Ferreira, 189 Cal. App. 3d 1485, 1507 (Cal. Ct. App 1987), citations omitted; see also Kirk v. Culley, 202 Cal. 501, 508-9 (Cal. 1927).
State Farm has requested a total of $18,200 in attorneys' fees and costs. That figure includes $1,058.70 in costs , $12,200.50 for documented attorneys fees through November 1, 2009, and an estimated $5,000 for attorneys' fees since that time. Rachel Brockett seeks to limit total fees and costs to $5,000.
The lead attorney for State Farm is Robert Pohls, principal of Pohls & Associates, who billed at a rate of $260/hour in this case. The majority of the work was done by Kenneth Perscheid, an associate, who billed at a rate of $225/hour. In addition, there was a small amount of copying done by Suzanne Arbil, an individual whose status is unknown and who billed at a rate of $140/hour. A search of the State Bar of California website reveals no record of Suzanne Arbil; the court presumes that she is not a licensed attorney.*fn2 State Farm has provided billing records for the case through November 1, 2009. See Doc. 24, Part 3, Ex. 3; Part 5, Ex. 7; Part 6, Ex. 9; Part 6, Ex. 10; Part 7, Ex. 12; Part 9, Ex. 16. These billing statements provided by State Farm show a total of 57.0 hours of work in that time frame: Robert Pohls billed 17.5 hours; Kenneth Perscheid billed 38.2 hours; and Suzanne Arbil billed 1.3 hours. The attorneys' fees total $13,327.00 and the costs total $1,094.75. In contrast, Robert Pohls provides a summary of the hours worked and costs incurred for a total of $12,200.50 in attorneys' fees and $1,058.70 in costs for that period. Doc. 24, Pohls Declaration, at 6:20-21. State Farm provides no explanation for the discrepancy in either attorneys' fees or costs.*fn3 The remaining $5,000 requested is an estimate of the amount to be spent on this motion itself, including the cost of arguing the motion in Fresno. Doc. 24, Pohls Declaration, at 7:3-17. As a preliminary matter, this matter was submitted on the papers; no oral argument was held. Using State Farm's own estimates, that should reduce the amount sought by $1,250.
Of the $12,200.50 in attorneys' fees and $1,058.70 in costs as of November 1, 2009, State Farm claims that the amount was spent on the following tasks:
1. Review file materials regarding the defendants' competing claims and advise it of the propriety of filing a complaint in ...