Opinion ID: 161333
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attorneys’ Fee Hearing

Text: The Lathams filed an initial fee petition with the district court , seeking more than $46,000 in attorneys’ fees. The petition was deficient in that it omitted the lawyers’ hourly rates. The Lathams submitted an amended petition, which contained the proper billing rates. The district court held a hearing, at which it heard argument from the parties but did not receive evidence. Following the hearing, the court reduced the fee petition in two respects. It agreed with First Marine’s contention that the $185 per hour charged by the -3- Lathams’ lead lawyer was excessive, and reduced the rate to $150 per hour. The court also slashed 25% from the compensable attorney time devoted to prosecuting the bad faith claim and adding a second defendant, FMFS, to the lawsuit. In total, the court awarded attorneys’ fees to the Lathams in the amount of $37,235, plus prejudgment and postjudgment interest. First Marine appeals from that ruling.