Opinion ID: 2976028
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Underlying Law

Text: In an action to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, “the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the costs . . . .” 42 U.S.C. § 1988 (2000). When such an award of attorneys fees is issued, “the statute and legislative history establish that ‘reasonable fees’ under § 1988 are to be calculated according to the prevailing market rates in the relevant community, regardless of whether plaintiff 3 No. 06-6478 is represented by private or nonprofit counsel.” Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 895 (1984). A “court’s initial point of departure, when calculating reasonable attorney[s] fees, is the determination of the fee applicant's ‘lodestar,’ which is the proven number of hours reasonably expended on the case by an attorney, multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate.”1 Isabel, 404 F.3d at 415 (citing Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433).