Opinion ID: 160822
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The denial of expert witness fees

Text: In his post-trial motion, Mr. Hall sought over $14,092.02 in expert witness fees. The district court found this amount grossly excessive, concluding that under 28 U.S.C. §§1920 and 1821(b), witness fees are recoverable only in the amount of $40 per day for each witness. Mr. Hall acknowledges that, in Crawford Fitting Co. v. J.T. Gibbons Inc., 482 U.S. 437 (1987), the Supreme Court held that expert witness fees were not recoverable beyond the per diem limits set by §§ 1821 and 1920. However, Mr. Hall notes that the court stated that these per diem limits are applicable “absent explicit statutory or contractual authorization.” Id. at 445 Here, Mr. Hall argues, there is such statutory authorization for the recovery of expert witness fees beyond the per diem amounts. In particular, he invokes the provisions of the ADA that incorporate the expansive remedies of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. Mr. Hall notes that 42 U.S.C. § 12205 states that a prevailing party may recover “a reasonable attorneys fee, including litigation expenses and costs.” Section 12217 of the ADA provides plaintiffs in ADA cases with “[t]he powers, remedies, and procedures set forth in” certain sections of the Civil Rights Act, including 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5. See 42 U.S.C. § 12117. Finally, § 2000e-5 states that “[i]n any action or proceeding under this title, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the Commission or the United States, a reasonable attorneys fee 45 (including expert fees) as part of the costs.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(k) (emphasis added). Thus, Mr. Hall maintains, this provision, incorporated by reference into the ADA, provides the express statutory authorization necessary to award expert witness fees beyond the per diem amounts set forth in the generally applicable cost statutes. Mr. Hall’s argument is supported by the history of § 2000e-5(k). In the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Pub.L. 102-166, 105 Stat. 1072, Congress amended 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(k) in response to a prior decision that had held that expert fees were not recoverable as part of an attorneys fees award under 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Landgraf v. USI Film Prods., Inc., 511 U.S. 244, 251 (1994) (citing West Va. Univ. Hosps., Inc. v. Casey, 499 U.S. 83 (1991)). This circuit has noted that the legislative history of the 1991 Act indicates that Congress intended the civil rights laws to be broadly construed, particularly in light of the fact that recent Supreme Court decisions had “‘deviat[ed] repeatedly from this principle and giv[en] unduly narrow constructions to civil rights statutes.’” Gudenkauf v. Stauffer Communications, Inc., 158 F. 3d 1074, 1079 (10th Cir. 1998) (quoting H.R.Rep No. 102-40(I) at 87-88 (1991), reprinted in 1991 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 625-26)). We further observed that “‘the legislative history is replete with references to Congress’s intention that civil rights laws are to be broadly construed consistent with their remedial purpose.’” Id. at 1079. In light of that history, we agree with those courts that have concluded that 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(k) provides express statutory authority for an award of expert witness 46 fees in excess of the per diem amounts set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1821. See O’Rourke v. City of Providence, 77 F. Supp.2d 258, 271 (D.R.I. 1999) (“[T]he amendment [to § 2000e-5(k)] makes clear that expert witness fees in excess of § 1821 witness costs are recoverable in Title VII cases.”); Benson v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 1997 WL 122997, No. 4-97-581, at  (D.Minn. 1997) (stating that “the plain language of § 2000e-5(k) permits an award for expert fees greater than the limits under § 1821”). Accordingly, § 2000e-5(k) authorizes an award of costs for expert witness fees in excess of those awarded to Mr. Hall under § 1821. Because the district court erroneously applied the § 1821 limits to Mr. Hall’s request to recover expert witness fees, we will vacate the court’s denial of that request and remand the case to the district court for consideration of an award of expert fees to Mr. Hall pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(k).