Opinion ID: 286288
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Award to Special Master

Text: 38 The special master expended 380 hours in connection with the accounting, including 16 days of hearings, the review of 2,842 pages of testimony and over 300 exhibits, and the consideration of briefs on the applicable law. He requested and was allowed an average hourly rate of $40, for a total fee of $15,000. 39 Recognizing that the fee sought was large if viewed solely against the damages awarded, the court found the fee reasonable in view of the extent of the accounting, 'the difficulty of many of the issues presented, the thoroughness of the master's services, including a 31-page report, and his expertise in the area with which this case is concerned,' citing 5 Moore's Federal Practice 53.04(1), pp. 2921-22 12 (86a, 87a). 40 Appellants argue that the fee should be reduced and the greater portion assessed against appellee because the master permitted appellee to present evidence of sales subsequent to the expiration date of the patent without first establishing the continuation of the unfair acts of competition, thereby unnecessarily extending the length of the hearings. In answer to this objection the district court pointed out that the reference to the master was 'structured in broad and positive terms,' and that the 'breadth of the reference provisions coupled with the complexity of this litigation makes it difficult to see that the master disregarded the terms of the reference or abused his discretion by taking proof of items which did not enter into the findings on damages, but which would have so entered had either he or the court held other than as they did on the critical and contested issues' (84a-86a). 41 We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in the amount of compensation allowed to the master and in assessing the master's fee and other costs of reference against appellants.