Opinion ID: 197547
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: If a plaintiff prevails on only some of multiple

Text: 1. claims, then a fee reduction may be in order. To guide decisionmaking in this situation, the Justices have suggested two relevant questions: First, did the plaintiff fail to prevail on claims that were unrelated to the claims on which he succeeded? Second, did the plaintiff achieve a level of success that makes the hours reasonably expended a satisfactory basis for making a fee award? Hensley, 461 U.S. at 434. 5This is equally true of the vindication of rights (which, to the extent it may be relevant here, plainly cuts against a reduction in fees). 10 When different claims for relief are not interconnected that is, when the claims rest on different facts and legal theories they are by definition severable and unrelated. Attorneys' fees normally should not be awarded for time spent in litigating (or preparing to litigate) unsuccessful, severable claims. See id. at 435; Lipsett, 975 F.2d at 940. 2. If a plaintiff prevails on an insubstantial subset