Opinion ID: 2543254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The time consumed.

Text: [I]t is generally recognized that the first yardstick that is used by the trial judges is the time consumed when determining the reasonableness of an attorney fee. Peebles v. Miley, 439 So.2d 137, 141 (Ala.1983). Although the affidavits and the findings of the trial court state that Fees spent an inordinate amount of time on T.S.'s case, it is troublesome that the record contains no evidence of the number of hours per day or per week Fees spent on behalf of T.S. during the 14-week period from his initial meeting with F.M. until a tentative settlement was reached. The record does indicate that F.M. met with Fees on August 4, 2008, and that a proposed settlement was reached on November 6, 2008. In addition to representing T.S. and F.M. at two hearings, Fees filed the following pleadings on behalf of T.S.: a complaint, a motion for a protective order, pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), a motion to compel DHR to produce an investigative report, a motion to appoint a guardian ad litem and pro ami, a motion to add DHR as a party, a reply to DHR's refusal to consent to the settlement, a petition for approval of pro ami, a motion in support of the attorney award and expenses, and a motion in opposition of DHR's motion to alter, amend, or vacate the judgment. Additionally, the record contains the following pleadings, which we recognize Fees reviewed: an answer filed by defendant Mr. Rooter, a motion for a HIPAA order filed by Mr. Rooter, a motion to quash a subpoena filed by the Limestone County district attorney, an objection to a subpoena and motion for a protective order filed by DHR, a HIPAA order, an order requiring DHR to produce its files, DHR's response to the motion to compel, a sworn petition seeking establishment of a special-needs trust prepared by Baswell-Guthrie, a petition to intervene filed by the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, Inc., DHR's response indicating its refusal to consent to the proposed settlement, a motion to set a hearing filed by the guardian ad litem, DHR's brief in opposition to the attorney fee, the final order, and DHR's motion to alter, amend, or vacate the approved attorney fee. The record also indicates that Fees subpoenaed and acquired T.S.'s records from various health-care facilities and county and State DHRs, as well as investigative reports of the accident from local and State investigative agencies. He also hired and consulted with three experts, acquired photographs of the accident and injuries, assimilated materials for mediation, and represented T.S. in mediation. A review of the evidence, the pleadings in the record, and the submitted litigation expenses indicates that Fees spent time working on the case, drafting and filing pleadings and discovery requests, conducting discovery, preparing for and attending mediation, and conducting research during the pendency of the action. Nothing indicates the amount of time spenta detailed explanation of the hours Fees expended on T.S.'s caseor that any of these actions were exceptionally time-consuming or resulted in Fees working only on T.S.'s case from the time he met with F.M. until a tentative settlement was reached 14 weeks later. Additionally, it is worth noting that Ability Plus's counsel instigated mediation and that Fees was aware of the insurance policy limits; therefore, Fees did not have to engage in extraordinary effortstime to compel an early settlement of the case and did not have to engage in trial preparation. The evidence supporting this factor is limited, and the absence of any time records makes it difficult to conclude that the fee of $262,500 is reasonable.