Opinion ID: 3168859
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Verdict and Post-Trial Judgment

Text: On remand, after five days of hearing evidence and four days of deliberation, the jury returned a special verdict finding all Santa Maria defendants liable. The jury awarded $5,000 in compensatory damages to Javier Sr. and $0 to Hope 10 BRAVO V. CITY OF SANTA MARIA and E.B. It did not award punitive damages. The district court entered judgment, awarding $5,000 to Javier Sr. and $1 each to Hope and E.B. After judgment was entered, Defendants renewed their motion for judgment as a matter of law, attacking the findings of liability against Tanore, Ralston, Macagni, and the City. Defendants also moved to amend the judgment, contending that damages, attorney fees, and costs should be offset by the Bravos’ $360,000 settlement with the City of Santa Barbara. The Bravos moved for a new trial on damages, and requested an award of attorney fees and costs. The district court granted the Defendants’ motion for judgment as a matter of law as to Police Chief Macagni’s individual liability, but denied the motion as to Tanore, Ralston, and the City. Regarding Defendants’ motion to amend the judgment, the court concluded that any award of attorney fees should be offset by the attorney fees portion of the City of Santa Barbara’s settlement ($169,856.34) but that any award of costs should not be offset by the costs already paid in the City of Santa Barbara settlement ($16,208.95). Finally, the court denied the Bravos’ motion for a new trial on damages, but named the Bravos the prevailing parties and awarded $1,023,610.41 in attorney fees and $13,376.85 in costs. The court then entered an amended judgment, which the parties timely cross-appealed. JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Attorney fee and costs awards are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Disc Golf Ass'n, Inc. v. Champion Discs, Inc., 158 F.3d 1002, BRAVO V. CITY OF SANTA MARIA 11 1010 (9th Cir. 1998); Corder v. Brown, 25 F.3d 833, 836 (9th Cir. 1994).