Opinion ID: 738304
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Time spent obtaining the fee.

Text: 47 Dunne has spent considerable time obtaining his fees. This court alone has now heard his lawyer's fee issue twice, in Florida v. Dunne, 915 F.2d 542 (9th Cir.1990), and in the case at bar. Of course much more time and effort was spent in the district court in the extensive proceedings before the magistrate. Dunne appeals denial of compensation for this time. 48 Time spent obtaining an attorneys' fee in common fund cases is not compensable because it does not benefit the plaintiff class. Washington Pub. Power, 19 F.3d at 1299. Dunne argues for an exception, because his case is extraordinary, and the money will go to Florida and its counties rather than individual class members. These are not reasons justifying an exception. The reason for the rule applies. Dunne's work on his fee applications did not benefit the class. Indeed, Florida points out that Dunne originally demanded $3.6 million for getting the people of Florida $5.2 million (70% of the fund), then increased his demand to $7.3 million when the fund had grown by accumulation of interest, so it is Florida's opposition rather than Dunne's application which benefitted the common fund. 49