Court Opinion

ID: 4029824
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-30 21:03:01.642026+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:08.973065
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/30/16 Salameh v. 5th and K Master Assn. CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

TAMER SALAMEH et al.,                                               D067232

         Cross-complainants and Appellants,

         v.                                                         (Super. Ct. No. 37-2010-00094424-
                                                                     CU-OR-CTL)
5TH AND K MASTER ASSOCIATION,
INC. et al.,

         Cross-defendants and Respondents.

         APPEALS from a judgment and order of the Superior Court of San Diego County,

Joel M. Pressman, Judge. Affirmed.

         Aguirre & Severson, Michael J. Aguirre, Maria C. Severson; Stris & Maher and

Peter K. Stris for Cross-Complainants and Appellants.

         Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, Charles S. Haughey, Jr., Raul L. Martinez,

Esther P. Holm and Eric Kizirian for Cross-defendants and Respondents 5th & K Master

Association, Inc., 5th & K Parcel 1 Owners' Association, Inc., 5th & K Parcel 2 Owners'
Association, Inc., 5th & K Parcel 3 Owners' Association, Inc., Bhavesh Patel, Ron

Adelhelm and Renee Molloy.

       Cox, Castle & Nicholson, Frederick H. Kranz and Lynn T. Galuppo for Cross-

defendants and Respondents Tarsadia Hotels, 5th Rock, LLC, MKP One, LLC, MSP

One, LLC, Gaslamp Holdings, LLC, T-12 Three, LLC, Evolution Hospitality, LLC,

Tarsadia Investments, LLC, and T-2 Development, LLC.

       Cross-complainants, who are owners of condominium guestrooms in the Hard

Rock Hotel San Diego (Hotel), appeal an attorney fee award of $3,524,959.00 to a group

of nine cross-defendants (collectively, Tarsadia)1 and another attorney fee award of

$1,377,172.32 to a different group of seven cross-defendants (collectively, the

Association)2 following entry of judgment on the pleadings in cross-defendants' favor.

Cross-complainants contend that the awarded fees are not reasonable in relation to the

results achieved by cross-defendants, cross-defendants' attorneys billed an excessive

number of hours, and the trial court failed to scrutinize the attorneys' hourly rates. We

reject these contentions and affirm.

1      The Tarsadia cross-defendants are Tarsadia Hotels, 5th Rock, LLC, MKP One,
LLC, MSP One, LLC, Gaslamp Holdings, LLC, T-12 Three, LLC, Evolution Hospitality,
LLC, Tarsadia Investments, LLC, and T-2 Development, LLC. Throughout the case,
they have been represented by the law firm Cox, Castle & Nicholson.

2      The Association cross-defendants are 5th & K Master Association, Inc., 5th & K
Parcel 1 Owners' Association, Inc., 5th & K Parcel 2 Owners' Association, Inc., 5th & K
Parcel 3 Owners' Association, Inc., Bhavesh Patel, Ron Adelhelm and Renee Molloy.
Throughout the case, they have been principally represented by the law firm Lewis
Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith (Lewis Brisbois).
                                             2
                   FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       In March 2014, after over three years of litigation, cross-defendants obtained

judgment on the pleadings with respect to a third amended cross-complaint (TACC).

(Salameh et al. v. 5th and K Master Association, Inc. et al. (Sept. 23, 2015, D066096)

[nonpub. opn.] (Salameh I).) Subsequently, Tarsadia and the Association each moved for

an award of attorney fees under (1) Civil Code section 1717, (2) Code of Civil Procedure

sections 1021, 1032, and 1033.5, and (3) the contracts at issue, including the parties'

purchase/sale contracts and rental management agreements. Cross-defendants argued

that they were entitled to attorney fees as the prevailing party under the relevant

contractual and statutory provisions, and that the amounts of fees requested were

reasonable based on the lodestar calculation, counsel's necessarily incurred time and

market rates, the nature of the litigation and amount at issue, the difficulty in handling

and resolving the dispute, and the result obtained.

       As to the initial lodestar figure, cross-defendants multiplied the number of hours

spent by each of their attorneys and paralegals by each person's negotiated hourly rate.

Tarsadia's counsel spent approximately 8,300 hours on the case and the Association's

counsel spent approximately 6,400 hours. A mix of partners, associates, and paralegals

billed these hours at various hourly rates. As for the nature of the case, cross-

complainants filed their original cross-complaints in 2011 as putative class actions,

including fraud and unfair competition claims, asserting that cross-defendants had

                                              3
overcharged them for the management and maintenance of their Hotel units.3 Cross-

complainants sought more than $45 million in fees collected by Tarsadia under rental

management agreements, more than $19 million in assessments collected by the

Association, and an undetermined amount of punitive damages. After over three years of

extensive motion practice, discovery, depositions, discovery disputes, class certification,

and class notice, the cross-claims resolved entirely in cross-defendants' favor.4

       Tarsadia presented the redacted monthly billing statements of its counsel,

reflecting entries for each team member by task rounded to tenths of an hour, the person's

billing rate, and total fees incurred. Tarsadia also submitted the declaration of its

counsel, Frederick H. Kranz, a partner at Cox, Castle & Nicholson. In addition to

attesting to some of the foregoing matters, Kranz averred to his principal role in

representing Tarsadia, the roles of the other professionals he selected to work on the

matter at lower billing rates, the consistency of their hourly rates with those charged by

other similar law firms handling similar work in Southern California, and the fact that

Tarsadia had paid his firm's bills at the listed rates throughout the litigation. The

attorneys' hourly rates varied based on seniority and experience, from $360 for associates

up to $615 for the lead partner. Kranz further declared that the billing statements

3      Cross-complainants filed their cross-complaints in response to the homeowners'
associations' collection actions for allegedly unpaid assessments. The court consolidated
the cases and stayed the collection actions until the cross-complaints could be resolved.

4      This court summarized a portion of these proceedings in Salameh I, and noted that
cross-complainants filed the TACC to conform to their most recent legal theories.
                                              4
reflected reductions totaling $219,375.25 for duplicative or discounted work, which

Tarsadia was not requesting as part of its award.5

       The Association presented similarly detailed, redacted monthly billing records of

its counsel, as well as the declaration of Charles S. Haughey, Jr., a partner at Lewis

Brisbois, and Craig L. Combs, an attorney at Wasserman Kornheiser.6 Like Kranz,

Haughey substantiated the fees his firm was requesting, attesting to the number of hours

spent by each member of his firm, the staffing structure and rates charged by each person,

the consistency of those rates with other major firms handling similar litigation in

Southern California, and that Lewis Brisbois had charged the contract rates that it had

previously negotiated with the Association's insurer. Lewis Brisbois charged flat hourly

rates of $230 for its senior partners and $175 for its senior associates.

       Through their counsel's declarations and numerous lodged documents, Tarsadia

and the Association recounted in substantial detail cross-complainants' factual and legal

allegations and the lengthy procedural history of the case, which they maintained

5      The record indicates that Tarsadia may have requested $3,529,459 in attorney fees,
yet the trial court awarded $3,529,959 in its tentative ruling issued to the parties,
confirmed as its final order after a hearing on the motions. Cross-complainants have not
raised this possible typographical error, and thus, have forfeited the issue. (See Premier
Medical Management Systems, Inc. v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn. (2008) 163
Cal. App. 4th 550, 564 (Premier Medical).)

6       Wasserman Kornheiser LLP maintains a niche practice representing hundreds of
common interest development associations, serves as the Association's general counsel,
prosecuted the Association's collection actions, and also performed work in defending
against the cross-complaints. Combs declared that his $200 hourly rate was reasonable in
light of his specialized practice, that his firm's bills are directly reimbursed by the
Association, and that the Association's request of $58,591 for fees incurred by his firm
related solely to defending against the cross-complaints.
                                              5
necessitated the number of attorney hours expended. Tarsadia and the Association

indicated that the class action nature of the case had amplified the demands on counsel's

time. For example, they described how cross-complainants had served hundreds of

discovery requests, and that in order to respond, cross-defendants were required to collect

and produce an enormous volume of documents. In addition, there were 57 depositions

that continued over 73 days or sessions. Further, there were a number of discovery

disputes. Cross-defendants explained that another complication arose when cross-

complainants shifted their legal theories at the class certification stage, and the altered

legal theories led to the TACC's filing and motions for judgment on the pleadings.

Tarsadia and the Association argued that all of their fees were reasonably necessary for

the defense of the case, given their significant risk exposure, the complex factual

background and shifting legal theories, and the manner in which cross-complainants

litigated the case.

       In opposition, cross-complainants asserted that they had "prevailed" on a number

of motions before cross-defendants ultimately prevailed on their motions for judgment on

the pleadings, and further contended that cross-defendants' counsel had spent time on

matters that were not reasonably necessary to the litigation. Cross-complainants argued

that cross-defendants had taken unnecessary depositions, including those of a married

couple and their 16-year-old daughter,7 and that the successful motions for judgment on

the pleadings could and should have been brought at an earlier point in the litigation.

7      Cross-complainants did not identify the deponents by their names.
                                              6
Without summarizing or attaching any deposition transcripts, cross-complainants'

counsel, Maria C. Severson, summarily averred that the depositions taken were

unnecessary. Cross-complainants raised no objection to Tarsadia's and the Association's

being represented by different law firms, did not challenge any hourly rates, and failed to

identify any particular time entries or amounts that should be stricken. Instead, they

merely urged the court to globally reduce the amounts of the requested fees.

       In reply, cross-defendants maintained that they were the "prevailing party," having

obtained a complete dismissal of the action in their favor, and pointed out that cross-

complainants had not challenged any of the billing entries or hourly rates used to

calculate the lodestar figure. They reiterated the hard-fought and aggressive nature of the

litigation and stated that the successful motions for judgment on the pleadings could not

have been filed earlier. Tarsadia submitted an additional declaration of its counsel, Lynn

T. Galuppo, who explained that (1) cross-defendants had taken the depositions of only 12

witnesses, nine of whom were named parties, to develop facts and arguments for their

substantive defenses and opposition to class certification; and (2) it was necessary to

depose a cross-complainant's daughter because the cross-complainant was not fluent in

English and he testified that his daughter had also heard the sales representations made to

him.

       In October 2014, the trial court granted the attorney fee motions, finding that

cross-defendants were entitled to attorney fees under the contracts at issue and that

detailed evidence supported the reasonableness of the fees requested. The court noted

that cross-complainants had not shown that any particular amounts billed were

                                             7
unreasonable, that their arguments were conclusory and devoid of factual support, and

that they had failed to present rebuttal evidence pertaining to the reasonableness of the

hours or rates. Further, the court rejected cross-complainants' argument that the

depositions taken were unnecessary, observing that cross-complainants had taken a large

majority of the depositions in the case and had not established that the "daughter's"

deposition was not needed.

                                       DISCUSSION

I.     Legal Principles and Standard of Review

       Cross-complainants do not contest that relevant contractual and statutory

provisions authorized an award of attorney fees in this case. (See, e.g., Code Civ. Proc.,

§ 1021 [parties may agree to "the measure and mode of compensation" for attorneys].)

However, they challenge the reasonableness of the attorney fees awarded. Reasonable

attorney fees authorized by contract shall be awarded to the prevailing party as "fixed by

the court." (Civ. Code, § 1717.) "The trial court has broad discretion to determine the

amount of a reasonable fee, and the award of such fees is governed by equitable

principles." (Gorman v. Tassajara Development Corp. (2009) 178 Cal. App. 4th 44, 92.)

       The fee setting inquiry in California typically begins with the lodestar, i.e., the

number of hours reasonably expended multiplied by the reasonable hourly rate. (PLCM

Group, Inc. v. Drexler (2000) 22 Cal. 4th 1084, 1095 (PLCM).) The reasonable hourly

rate is that prevailing in the community for similar work. (Ibid.) The lodestar figure may

then be adjusted up or down to arrive at the fair market value for the legal services

provided, based on the trial court's consideration of factors " 'including the nature of the

                                              8
litigation, its difficulty, the amount involved, the skill required in its handling, the skill

employed, the attention given, the success or failure, and other circumstances in the

case.' " (Id. at p. 1096; see also Graciano v. Robinson Ford Sales, Inc. (2006) 144
Cal. App. 4th 140, 154 (Graciano).)

       This court reviews an order granting or denying attorney fees for abuse of

discretion. (PLCM, supra, 22 Cal.4th at p.1095; Graciano, supra, 144 Cal.App.4th at p.

148.) "The 'experienced trial judge is the best judge of the value of professional services

rendered in his court, and while his judgment is of course subject to review, it will not be

disturbed unless the appellate court is convinced that it is clearly wrong.' " (Serrano v.

Priest (1977) 20 Cal. 3d 25, 49; PLCM, supra, at p. 1095.)

II.    The Trial Court Did Not Abuse its Discretion in Determining Cross-defendants'
       Attorney Fee Award

       According to cross-complainants, the trial court abused its discretion in

determining the attorney fee awards, improperly shifted the burden of proof, and did not

require cross-defendants to demonstrate the reasonableness of their requested fees. We

reject these arguments. The court used a proper standard in calculating the award—it

took the number of hours expended by counsel multiplied by their hourly rates, which it

determined to be the prevailing market rate for comparable legal services. (PLCM,

supra, 22 Cal.4th at p. 1096.) The court relied on cross-defendants' unrefuted evidence,

including detailed billing records and attorney declarations, which provided the court

with a sufficient basis to determine prevailing hourly rates and "whether the case was

overstaffed, how much time the attorneys spent on particular claims, and whether the

                                                9
hours were reasonably expended." (Christian Research Institute v. Alnor (2008) 165
Cal. App. 4th 1315, 1320.) Under the circumstances, cross-defendants met their burden to

demonstrate the reasonableness of their requested fees, and cross-complainants failed to

show otherwise by "point[ing] to the specific items challenged, with a sufficient

argument and citations to the evidence." (Premier Medical, supra, 163 Cal.App.4th at p.

564.) We examine each of cross-complainants' specific contentions below.

       Cross-complainants first contend that the fee award was not reasonable in relation

to the results achieved. In that regard, they divide the case into two segments: before

cross-complainants agreed to file the TACC (November 6, 2013) and after that date.

They argue that they "prevailed" during the earlier segment of the case and therefore, that

cross-defendants should not recover fees for work performed during that time.

       The trial court did not abuse its discretion by declining to reduce fees based on the

parties' success or failure on particular motions filed during the pendency of the

litigation. A "prevailing party" includes a cross-defendant "in whose favor a dismissal is

entered." (Code Civ. Proc., § 1032, subd. (a)(4).) Prevailing parties should ordinarily be

"fully compensat[ed]" for their reasonable attorney fees incurred in litigating an action to

a successful conclusion. (Ketchum v. Moses (2001) 24 Cal. 4th 1122, 1133 (Ketchum);

see Hsu v. Abbara (1995) 9 Cal. 4th 863, 877 [defendant that obtained an unqualified

victory on a contract claim was entitled to recover its attorney fees "incurred in defense

of that claim"].) Moreover, "there is no requirement that the trial court make an award of

attorney fees in an amount that is commensurate with or in proportion to the degree of

success in the . . . litigation." (Bernardi v. County of Monterey (2008) 167 Cal. App. 4th
10
1379, 1398.) Accordingly, cross-defendants were entitled to all of their reasonably

incurred defensive fees, and the trial court was not obligated to reduce fees based on the

results of particular motions. Rather, the court could properly consider the

reasonableness of their fees in relation to their overall success of prevailing on all of the

asserted cross-claims.

       Second, cross-complainants contend that Tarsadia and the Association overstaffed

the case, that they unnecessarily used two different law firms, and that their attorneys

billed an excessive number of hours. Cross-complainants' unsupported assertion that

cross-defendants "overstaffed" the case fails to establish an abuse of the trial court's

discretion. (Raining Data Corp. v. Barrenechea (2009) 175 Cal. App. 4th 1363, 1375.) A

party challenging an attorney fee award must present specific arguments and evidence to

support its claims. (E.g., Premier Medical, supra, 163 Cal.App.4th at pp. 561-562.)

However, cross-complainants have not provided any examples of inefficient or

duplicative work. Instead, they make conclusory allegations that this occurred. We have

no basis to conclude that the attorneys performed inefficiently or billed for duplicative

work. We may reasonably infer that the trial court found no inefficiency after properly

considering counsel's declarations and billing records and the lack of any specific

challenge by cross-complainants. (See Ketchum, supra, 24 Cal.4th at p. 1140 [" ' "[a]ll

intendments and presumptions are indulged to support [the judgment] on matters as to

which the record is silent " ' "].) Indeed, the court justifiably resolved the issue of

allegedly unnecessary depositions in cross-defendants' favor since the available evidence

showed that they took a reasonable number of depositions for appropriate reasons.

                                              11
       With respect to the contention that there was no need for cross-defendants to be

represented by different counsel, Tarsadia and the Association are entirely separate legal

entities that faced different factual allegations, theories of liability, risk exposure, and

potential conflicts. (See Salameh I.) For instance, the Association, including the

individually sued board members who were employees of the hotel developer, might

have asserted indemnity claims against one or more of the Tarsadia cross-defendants.

The trial court could reasonably conclude that Tarsadia and the Association required the

services of different law firms to represent their distinct interests.

       Third, cross-complainants argue that the trial court did not sufficiently scrutinize

counsel's hourly rates, highlighting that Cox, Castle & Nicholson charged higher rates

than Lewis Brisbois. The argument is forfeited because cross-complainants did not

previously challenge counsel's hourly rates. In any event, the argument fails on its

merits. A reasonable hourly rate is derived from the market value of the attorney's

services, regardless of whether the attorneys claiming fees " ' " charge nothing for their

services, charge at below-market or discounted rates, represent the client on a straight

contingent fee basis, or are in-house counsel." ' " (Center For Biological Diversity v.

County of San Bernardino (2010) 188 Cal. App. 4th 603, 619.) The lead partner at Cox,

Castle & Nicholson declared that his firm's rates were consistent with those charged in

the marketplace and that Tarsadia had paid his firm's bills throughout the three-year

litigation. Lewis Brisbois charged arguably below-market, discounted rates—i.e., its

contractually negotiated rates with the Association's insurer. Tellingly, cross-

complainants presented no alternative evidence of market rates. The court did not abuse

                                               12
its discretion by relying on the unrebutted declarations of cross-defendants' attorneys.

       In summary, cross-complainants have not persuaded us that the trial court's

decision was clearly wrong. Cross-defendants presented ample evidence of the work that

their attorneys performed in defending against the prospect of a $64 million judgment.

Counsel submitted detailed daily time entries for more than three years of litigation,

accompanied by declarations explaining how the entries were prepared, reviewed, and

invoiced to their clients. Cross-complainants have not shown that the fee awards are

excessive or exceed the bounds of reason. (Peak-Las Positas Partners v. Bollag (2009)

172 Cal. App. 4th 101, 114.)

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment and order granting cross-defendants' motions for attorney fees are

affirmed. Cross-defendants are entitled to recover costs on appeal.

                                                                                AARON, J.

WE CONCUR:

         O'ROURKE, Acting P. J.

                     PRAGER, J.*

*       Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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