Opinion ID: 538388
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Services to Enforce Compliance with the District Court's Judgment

Text: 25 The plaintiff has also submitted to this court a request for a fee award combining a large variety of services it represents was performed in implementing the judgment of the district court, including preparation for and meeting with Pennsylvania medicaid officials, analysis of the Pennsylvania State Plan Amendment submitted to the United States Department of Health & Human Services, preparation of a brief in opposition to the application to the district court for a stay pending appeal, preparation of a Rule 70 motion and supporting brief with the district court to enforce its judgment. Although the State does not object to the hourly rate claimed for each lawyer, it challenges the number of hours claimed and expenses incurred because those services were not involved in the appeal to this court. 26 An appellate court is not in a position to review a dispute with respect to post-judgment legal or related services performed in the district court, or with respect to the enforcement or implementation of that court's judgment unless the district court has made the requisite findings of fact. It would be highly presumptuous and far from prudential for an appellate court acting on a motion for fees relating to an appeal before it to also adjudicate disputed issues of fact on matters not involved in the appeal, and on which the district court had no opportunity to pass judgment. 27 The district court entered its memorandum opinion and order on November 30, 1988. However, final judgment was not entered until January 31, 1989. Nonetheless, commencing on November 30, 1988, with an entry of $120 charge for a telephone call relating to the district court's decision, fees and costs are requested throughout the numerous entries in plaintiff's exhibits 1 and 2 for services not relating to the appeal in this court. In fact, a considerable sum is even requested for services and expenses in connection with the request for attorneys' fees in the district court and the joint stipulation ultimately reached in connection therewith. Also, attorneys' fees are requested for conferences with the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, and expenses related thereto. We obviously have no way of assessing whether these services and expenses were required, are reasonable, and whether they were compensated in the fee award made by the district court. For example, an item on December 12, 1988, requesting $450 in attorneys' fees for a telephone call between plaintiff's attorney, Ms. Krebs-Markrich, and other counsel appears to relate to the fee proposal in the district court. 28 Only the district court is in a position to know whether any of the services for which compensation is sought here were included in the stipulated fees allowed by it of $350,000. If an evidentiary hearing must be conducted as to the other items sought in enforcing the judgment, the district court should conduct it and make the necessary findings. We see no plausible basis for this court to adjudicate these disputed claims and we will not pass upon them. We have reviewed each of the cases cited by the plaintiff, namely Burke v. Guiney, 700 F.2d 767 (1st Cir.1983); Northcross v. Board of Educ., 611 F.2d 624 (6th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 447 U.S. 911, 100 S.Ct. 2999, 64 L.Ed.2d 862 (1980); and Prandini v. National Tea Co., 585 F.2d 47 (3d Cir.1978). None of these cases provides us with any precedent to support the award requested. Furthermore, WVUH did not prevail on its Rule 70 motion in the district court. 29 We are optimistic that in light of the ability and skill of counsel for the parties to agree upon a fair sum for attorneys' fees in the much larger claim for trial fees in the district court, they will reach an agreement with respect to attorneys' fees for the post-judgment services rendered without the need to invoke an evidentiary hearing in the district court. 30