Opinion ID: 720952
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Request for Attorney's Fees

Text: 15 Dr. Flowers has requested an award of attorney's fees for this appeal as a prevailing party under 42 U.S.C. § 1988. 1 A plaintiff is a prevailing party under section 1988 only when (1) it wins on the merits of its claim, (2) the relief received materially alters the legal relationship between the parties by modifying the defendant's behavior, and (3) that relief directly benefits the plaintiff. Martinez v. Wilson, 32 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir.1994) (citing Farrar v. Hobby, 506 U.S. 103, 111-12 (1992)). Dr. Flowers meets each of the Martinez criteria with respect to the issues before this court. The parties may request fees and state their objections pursuant to Ninth Cir.R. 39-1.6 & 39-1.7. The matter is referred to the Appellate Commissioner for a determination of a reasonable fee award. This sum should be added to an award, if any, determined by the district court following the resolution of this case below. 16 REVERSED, VACATED and REMANDED.