Branch v. Wendy's Arby's Group (WAG)

Filing 55

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge C Lynwood Smith, Jr on 9/12/2013. (AHI)

Download PDF
FILED 2013 Sep-12 PM 12:37 U.S. DISTRICT COURT N.D. OF ALABAMA UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION AMY BRANCH,1 Plaintiff, vs. ARBY’S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC., et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No. CV 12-S-677-S MEMORANDUM OPINION On June 26, 2013, the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation was entered, and the parties were allowed therein fourteen (14) days in which to file objections to the recommendations made by the magistrate judge. No objections have been filed by either the plaintiff or the defendants. After careful consideration of the record in this case and the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, the court hereby ADOPTS the report of the magistrate judge. The court further ACCEPTS the recommendations of the magistrate judge that: (1) the Motion to Dismiss filed by defendant Arby’s Restaurant Group (Doc. 46) be granted and this action dismissed with prejudice; and 1 Plaintiff’s name appears on the amended complaint as “Amy Branch.” In subsequent filings in this case, plaintiff’s name also appears as “Aimee Branch” and “Aimee Sims.” For simplicity, the court will refer to plaintiff by the name in her amended complaint, Amy Branch. (2) the Court order plaintiff to pay Arby’s Restaurant Group’s reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, caused by plaintiff’s failure to attend her deposition. Defendant has submitted its specification and itemization of its fees (Doc. 54), which the Court considers in light of a previous order in this action awarding fees to defendant (Doc. 51). That order set reasonable hourly rates of $350 for Brett Coburn and $250 for Alexandra Barnett. Charles Morgan, lead counsel for defendant who has been praticing law for 25 years, requests a reduced hourly rate of $425, in light of the hourly rates found reasonable for Mr. Coburn and Ms. Barnett. The Court finds that the hourly rate requested by Mr. Morgan is reasonable. Upon review of the fee request, the Court also finds that counsel for defendant reasonably expended a total of 31.3 hours preparing for plaintiff’s deposition, traveling to Birmingham from Atlanta for plaintiff’s deposition, and preparing and filing its Motion to Dismiss and supplemental filing based on plaintiff’s failure to attend her deposition. The Court therefore finds that defendant Arby’s Restaurant Group is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees in this action against plaintiff in the total amount of $9,867.50, set out as follows: Attorney Hourly Rate Total Hours Total Charles Morgan $425 .7 $297.50 Brett Coburn $350 19.2 $6720.00 Alexandra Barnett $250 11.4 $2850.00 A separate order in conformity with this Memorandum Opinion will be entered contemporaneously herewith. 2 DONE this 12th day of September, 2013. ______________________________ United States District Judge 3

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?