Adams et al v. Austal, U.S.A., L.L.C.

Filing 971

Order re: 969 Response filed by Earaton Adams. The Court grants Plaintiffs' apportionment request and apportions the costs in the manner proposed by Plaintiffs such that each plaintiff is responsible for payment of the amount apportioned to him or her, as set out. The Clerk is directed to issue an appropriate certificate of judgment. Signed by Judge Kristi K. DuBose on 1/21/2016. (cmj)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
CYNTHIA BUMPERS, Administrator
Ad Litem for the Estate of Nelson Bumpers,
et al.,
Plaintiffs,

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v.
AUSTAL U.S.A., L.L.C,
Defendant.

CIVIL ACTION 08-00155-KD-N

ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Defendant’s oral request for a Certificate of Judgment
as to the costs retaxed against the Plaintiffs per Doc. 965, this Court’s Order (Doc. 967),
Plaintiffs’ Response and request for manner of apportionment of costs among the Plaintiffs (Doc.
969), and Defendant’s Response of no opposition (Doc. 970).
While Defendant incurred certain costs in defending against specific Plaintiffs, the order
retaxing costs (Doc. 965) did not apportion costs among the Plaintiffs. Allstate Ins. Co., Inc. v.
Jones, 763 F. Supp 1101, 1102 (M.D. Ala. 1991) (The language of Rule 54(d) “is generally
considered to state an equitable principle ... [which] vests in the district court a sound discretion
over the allowance, disallowance, or apportionment of costs in all civil actions.” (citations and
internal quotations omitted)). Thus, Plaintiffs were ordered to file a proposed apportionment of
costs among the Plaintiffs. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company v. Silver Star Health and
Rehab, 739 F. 3d 579, 585-586 (11th Cir. 2013) (“The default rule is that costs are to be imposed
jointly and severally, and the burden is on the party seeking to avoid that to introduce evidence
justifying apportionment and persuade the court to do that[]”). (Doc. 967). Defendant was also
ordered to file any response to the proposed apportionment. (Id.) The parties have filed their
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Responses to the Court’s Order (Docs. 969, 970).
On November 6, 2015, the Court issued an order retaxing costs in favor of Austal and
against Plaintiffs in the amount of amount of $32,751.30 (comprised of $28,520.35 for
deposition transcripts, $1,212.45 for witness fees, $230.00 for trial subpoenas, $177.50 for
certified copies and $2,611.00 for printing costs). (Doc. 965). Counsel for Plaintiffs propose the
following apportionment of those retaxed costs among the Plaintiffs, with which Austal is in
agreement (Doc. 969 (and Ex. A thereto); Doc. 970):
Earaton Adams (Tr#1 & 3)

$1,477.17

Robert Adams

$1,278.99

Myron Barnes (Tr#1 & 3)

$1,477.18

Cynthia Bumpers
(Administrator Ad Litem) (Tr#4)

$1,499.05

Fredrick Carter, Sr. (Tr#1)

$1,477.17

Alvin Cunningham

$1,278.99

Sidney Hedgeman (Tr#1)

$1,477.17

Tesha Hollis

$1,469.89

Carlos Johnson (Tr#1 & 3)

$1,477.18

Larry J. Laffiette (Tr #5)

$1,469.88

Ron Law (Tr #5)

$1,469.88

Jermel Matthews (Tr# 3)

$1,452.17

Jerome Pettibone (Tr #5)

$1,469.88

Rahman K. Pratt

$1,278.99

Nathaniel Reed (Tr #4)

$1,499.06

Jermaine Roberson (Tr #3)

$1,452.16

Carolyn Slay

$1,278.99

Charles L. Stills, III (Tr #3)

$1,452.16
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Gloria Sullivan

$1,278.99

Beverly Thomas (Tr #2)

$1,506.17

Franklin Thomas

$1,278.99

George Wells (Tr #3)

$1,452.16

Frederick Williams (Tr #4)

$1,499.04

TOTAL

$32,751.30

Upon consideration and given Austal’s lack of opposition, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’
apportionment request (Doc. 969 (and Ex. A thereto)) and APPORTIONS the costs in the
manner proposed by Plaintiffs such that each plaintiff is responsible for payment of the amount
apportioned to him or her, as detailed in the chart supra.
The Clerk is DIRECTED to issue an appropriate certificate of judgment.
DONE and ORDERED this the 21st day of January 2016.
/s/ Kristi K. DuBose
KRISTI K. DuBOSE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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