Opinion ID: 8312766
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: 173E Fees on Fees

Text: Finally, Defendant asks that if the court reduces Plaintiff's fee award demand, it should apply a corresponding reduction to any award of 'fees on fees' to reflect the limited nature of [Plaintiff's] success. Defs.' Mot., ECF No. 27, 20. The Court has reduced Plaintiff's fee award to account for the overlap of efforts expended by Plaintiff's two attorneys. But, the Court does not find that a reduction to the award of fees on fees is warranted. It is settled in this circuit that [h]ours reasonably devoted to a request for fees are compensable. Noxell Corp. v. Firehouse No. 1 Bar-B-Que Rest. , 771 F.2d 521 , 528 (D.C. Cir. 1985). Excluding Mr. Mastriani's time which the Court has already deducted, Plaintiff's counsel request compensation for 4.7 hours of work on the request for fees. Dec. of Seth A. Watkins, ECF No. 24-1, 17. This work included research and preparation, drafting and editing the motion for an award of fees, and drafting declarations. Given the comprehensive nature of Plaintiff's 13-page motion for fees, as well as the fact that the request for fees on fees is proportional to the overall request for fees, the Court will not reduce the award of fees on fees. Considering all of Defendant's arguments, and having conducted an independent, comprehensive review of Plaintiff's fee award request, the Court will eliminate in full Mr. Mastriani's billed hours to account for an overlap in efforts between Mr. Mastriani and Mr. Watkins. Taking this reduction into account, the Court finds that Plaintiff's counsel are entitled to $ 19,939.20 in attorneys' fees as well as $ 429.20 in costs for a total award of $ 20,368.40.