Moshir v. Lamborghini N.A. Group Incorporated

Filing 48

ORDER - IT IS ORDERED granting Moshirs Motion to Strike Lamborghini's Amended Response to Moshir's Motion for Attorneys Fees (Doc. 46 ). Doc. 46 is stricken. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED overruling Moshir's evidentiary objections in Mosh irs Reply to Lamborghinis Response (Doc. 47 ). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED granting in part and denying in part Moshir's Motion for Attorneys Fees, Costs, and Expenses (Doc. 40 ), and awarding Moshir a total of $22,031.40 in attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses, as described above. Signed by Senior Judge James A Teilborg on 2/26/13.(LAD)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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Automobili Lamborghini America LLC, )
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Defendant.
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Kevin Moshir,

No. CV 11-1611-PHX-JAT
ORDER RE: PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR
ATTORNEYS' FEES, COSTS, AND
EXPENSES; PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO
STRIKE; PLAINTIFF'S OBJECTIONS TO
ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE

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Currently pending before the Court are Plaintiff Kevin Moshir's Motion for Attorneys’

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Fees, Costs, and Expenses (Doc. 40), Motion to Strike (Doc. 47) Defendant Automobili

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Lamborghini America LLC’s Amended Response to Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys’ Fees

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and Expenses (Doc. 46), and Objections to Admission of Evidence (Doc. 47) proffered in

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Defendant’s Response (Doc. 45). The Court now rules on these motions.

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I.

BACKGROUND

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Plaintiff Kevin Moshir (“Moshir”) brought this Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

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(“MMWA”), 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq., suit on August 17, 2011. Moshir claimed that he

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purchased a defective 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder from Defendant Automobili

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Lamborghini America LLC (“Lamborghini”) on February 21, 2009, that Lamborghini

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provided a written warranty for the vehicle, and that Lamborghini’s failure to cure the

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vehicle’s defects breached the written warranty in violation of the MMWA and caused a

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diminution in the value of the vehicle.

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Moshir originally hired attorney Luis Ramirez of the firm of Pryor, Ramirez & Amar,

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LLC to represent him in this matter. Attorney Ramirez and his firm completed substantial

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pre-trial work on behalf of Moshir, including preparing and filing the Complaint (Doc. 1) and

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Amended Complaint (Doc. 6), creating the case management plan (Doc. 10), attending the

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Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting (id.) and Rule 16 Scheduling Conference (Doc. 11), making

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initial Rule 26 Disclosures (Doc. 17), and participating in settlement discussions with

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Lamborghini (Doc. 45, Exhibit 1, Email Excerpts of Settlement Negotiations, at 1-2). On

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October 17, 2011, attorney Ramirez communicated a settlement offer of $85,000 “cash-and-

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keep” to Lamborghini and Lamborghini responded with a counteroffer for $15,000 (id.).

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Moshir fired attorney Ramirez and his firm on December 20, 2012 with the intent that

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Moshir's “in-house” counsel assume representation in this matter (Doc. 14). “Primarily

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employed as the General Counsel for CellTrust Corporation” (Doc. 40, Affidavit of Attorney

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Rebecca Ruegg, at 2)—a company where Moshir is both the President and a co-owner (Doc.

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45, Exhibit E, Deposition of Kevin Moshir, at 24-25)—attorney Rebecca Ruegg entered a

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Notice of Appearance on behalf of Moshir on January 11, 2012 (Doc. 16). Lacking

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experience in civil litigation and believing that hiring experienced co-counsel “was necessary

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in this action to comport with Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct Rule ER 1.1” (Doc. 44,

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Exhibit A, Statement of Attorney Rebecca Ruegg Certifying Personal Consultation, at 2),

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Moshir and Attorney Ruegg hired attorney Brian Foster of the firm of Snell & Wilmer, LLP

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“to offer advice and guidance to Attorney Ruegg” (Doc. 40, Affidavit of Attorney Rebecca

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Ruegg, at 4).

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Attorney Ruegg represented Moshir throughout the remainder of the pre-trial process,

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including continued settlement negotiations, procurement of an expert, and a failed

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mediation. On January 30, 2012, Moshir rejected Lamborghini's $15,000 counteroffer and

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reiterated his demand for $85,000 cash-and-keep. At this time, Lamborghini’s counsel

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explained that it was unlikely to ever make an offer greater than $50,000. Attorney Ruegg,

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on behalf of Moshir, responded by claiming that it would be quite unlikely for Moshir to ever

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accept an offer below $50,000 (Doc. 45, Exhibit 1, Email Excerpts of Settlement
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Negotiations, at 1-2). On March 27, 2012, Lamborghini communicated a $20,000 cash-and-

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keep settlement offer which Moshir promptly declined without counteroffer (id. at 3).

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On April 4, 2012, Moshir hired an expert to examine his 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo

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Spyder for mechanical defects and prepare a report on the vehicle’s diminution of value; the

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expert submitted the report on April 26, 2012 (Doc. 45, Exhibit B, Diminution of Value /

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Inspection Report, at 88, 92). Of particular note is that Moshir'’s expert report does not

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proffer an opinion as to the dollar amount of any diminution of value, despite finding the

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brake squeal to be greater than usual for a high-performance, premium, sports car (id. at 88-

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93). Although Moshir’s expert opined that the vehicle's brake squeal could deter potential

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buyers (id. at 91), he characterized “a severely diminished resale value” as being “due to

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pages of problematic and unresolved service records,” not a mechanical defect (id. at 92).

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Moshir appears to have disclosed this expert report to Lamborghini on April 27, 2012 (see

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Doc. 33).1

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On May 17, 2012, both parties attended private mediation, ostensibly in an attempt

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to settle the dispute (Doc. 45, Exhibit A, Affidavit of Michael B. Brewer, at 2; Doc. 44,

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Exhibit C(1), at 6). Although Moshir’s own expert’s report did not ascribe a dollar value to

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the vehicle’s diminution of value, Moshir’s final demand at mediation was $135,000 (Doc.

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45, Exhibit A, Affidavit of Michael B. Brewer, at 2)—$50,000 more than the $85,000 he had

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been demanding since the beginning of the dispute and before receiving his expert’s report.

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Lamborghini, however, increased its offer for settlement to $35,000 (id.). It is unclear if

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Lamborghini’s offer would have included a provision for the recovery of attorneys’ fees,

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expenses, and costs; Moshir claims that it would not have, but has not alleged that accepting

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the offer would have required waiver of a MMWA § 2310(d)(2) claim for attorneys’ fees,

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costs, and expenses (Doc. 47, at 3).

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The Rule 16 Scheduling Order originally set February 27 as the deadline for Moshir
to disclose the identity of any expert he may use (Doc. 21, at 2). Moshir, however, made two
separate motions to extend the expert disclosure deadline to March 27 and April 27,
respectively (Docs. 24, 27). Because Lamborghini agreed to stipulate to both extensions, this
Court granted them.
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On June 6, 2012, Lamborghini served Moshir with a Rule 68 Offer of Judgment (Doc.

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37) for damages of $35,000 under Count 1 of the Complaint (a breach of the MMWA), an

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award of “cost[s] and expenses (including attorneys' fees based on actual time expended)

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determined by the Court to have been reasonably incurred pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 2310,” and

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judgment in favor of Lamborghini on Count 2 of the Complaint (the alleged Arizona Lemon

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Law violation) (Doc. 39, Exhibit A, Defendant's Offer of Judgment, at 1). On June 19, 2012,

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Moshir accepted the Offer of Judgment (Doc. 39).

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Claiming entitlement to expenses and costs under 15 U.S.C. § 2310, Moshir now

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moves the Court to award reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses, and costs. Accompanying

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the motion is an additional motion to strike Lamborghini's Amended Response to Moshir’s

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motion (Doc. 46) and objections to admission of evidence proffered by Lamborghini’s

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Response. The Court now rules on these motions.

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II.

ANALYSIS

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A.

Motion to Strike

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In his reply to Lamborghini’s response, Moshir moves to strike Lamborghini’s

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Amended Response to Moshir’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees (Doc. 46) under LRCiv

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7.2(m)(1), claiming that Lamborghini's Amended Response was not authorized by a statute,

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rule, or court order (Doc. 47, p.1). Lamborghini’s original Response (Doc. 45) to Moshir’s

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Motion for Attorneys’ Fees (Doc. 40) was filed on August 31, 2012, fourteen days after

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August 17, 2012, the day Moshir filed his Memorandum of Points and Authorities (Doc. 44).

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Lamborghini filed its Amended Response, however, on September 4, 2012, outside of the

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time limit authorized by LRCiv 7.2(c). Lamborghini did not ask for and the Court did not

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enter an order authorizing Lamborghini’s amendment. Additionally, Lamborghini has not

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responded to Moshir’s motion strike.

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A red-line examination of the amended response reveals that the amended response

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contains no new substantive arguments, but rather corrects citations, edits language choices

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and arguments for clarity, and otherwise appears to be a more final version of Lamborghini’s

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Response. The Court will not countenance submission of an early draft to meet filing
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deadlines with the intent of amending the unfinished filing to a “final” version after the filing

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deadline has run. Lamborghini’s Amended Response may not have been made with ulterior

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motives in this instance, but nonetheless, the Amended Response does not comport with

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LRCiv 7.2. Moshir’s motion to strike Lamborghini’s Amended Response (Doc. 46) is

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therefore granted.

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B.

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Pursuant to LRCiv Rule 7.1(m)(2), in his Reply to Lamborghini’s Response, Moshir

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makes three evidentiary objections to the content of Lamborghini’s Response based on

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Federal Rules of Evidence (“FRE”) Rule 401, 408, and 601. For the following reasons, the

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Objections to Admission of Evidence

Court overrules each objection.
1.

FRE Rule 408

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First, Moshir argues that Lamborghini’s “inclusion of evidence of conduct and

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statements made during compromise negotiations” is “inadmissible under [FRE] Rule 408

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and should not be considered by the court” (Doc. 47, at 2). Rule 408 requires the exclusion

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of evidence of “compromise negotiations” or other settlement negotiations only when offered

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as evidence of the “validity,” “invalidity,” or “amount” of the disputed claim. FRE 408(a)(2).

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Here, however, Lamborghini offers evidence of settlement negotiations not to attack the

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underlying validity or amount of the claim, but solely for its relevance in determining the

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reasonableness of Moshir’s claim for attorneys’ fees.

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In Ingram v. Oroudjian, 647 F.3d 925, 927 (9th Cir. 2011), the district court found

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that plaintiffs “took unreasonable settlement positions and prolonged the litigation.” Noting

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that plaintiffs had initially demanded $425,000 and later settled for a total of $32,000, “an

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offer which had been rejected by [plaintiffs] one month before settling for that amount,” the

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district court used this evidence from settlement negotiations to reduce the attorneys’ fees

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award. Id. Having not previously addressed the issue, the Ninth Circuit found that “other

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circuits have held that settlement negotiations may be considered by the district court as a

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factor in determining a fee award.” Id. (citing Lohman v. Duryea Borough, 574 F.3d 163, 167

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(3d Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 130 S.Ct. 3330 (2010); Parke v. First Reliance Standard Life
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Ins. Co., 368 F.3d 999, 1012 (8th Cir. 2004); Moriarty v. Svec, 233 F.3d 955, 967 (7th Cir.

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2000)). Specifically agreeing with the Third Circuit’s reasoning in Lohman (“Rule 408 does

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not bar a court’s consideration of settlement negotiations in its analysis of what constitutes

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a reasonable fee award,” 574 F.3d at 167), the Ninth Circuit held that the district court may

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“consider[] settlement negotiations for the purpose of deciding a reasonable attorney fee

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award.” Ingram, 647 F.3d at 927.

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In light of Ingram—binding precedent on this Court—the Court overrules Moshir’s

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objections to Lamborghini’s proffer of evidence from settlement negotiations and will use

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the Court’s discretion to give the evidence the weight it deserves when considering Moshir’s

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motion for attorneys’ fees.
2.

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FRE Rules 401 and 601

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Second, Moshir objects to Lamborghini’s “inclusion of statements and conclusions

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regarding the ultimate outcome of the case based on facts that may or may not have been

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submitted at a trial that did not occur as irrelevant under FRE Rule 401 and speculative under

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FRE Rule 602” (Doc. 47, at 2). Moshir makes this objection generally and offers no specific

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details or examples of irrelevant facts or speculative conclusions submitted by Lamborghini.

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Instead, Moshir simply argues that “much of the evidence presented by [Lamborghini] is

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irrelevant” because the “purpose of the current motion is to determine the reasonableness”

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of the attorneys’ fees. Equally without specificity, Moshir alleges that Lamborghini’s

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presentation of evidence in its response is “frequently inaccurate and incomplete,” and

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therefore “any conclusions based upon such evidence would require speculation” (Doc. 47,

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at 2).

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Because Moshir has not identified any specific evidence to which he objects, the

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Court finds the objections overly broad and lacking sufficient clarity to enable the Court to

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apply FRE Rules 401 and 602. Consequently, the Court overrules Moshir’s objections to the

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admission of evidence and will use the Court’s discretion to give the evidence the weight it

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deserves when considering Moshir’s motion for attorneys’ fees.

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C.

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Under the MMWA, a prevailing plaintiff “may be allowed by the court to recover

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. . . a sum equal to the aggregate amount of cost and expenses (including attorneys’ fees

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based on actual time expended) determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred

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by the plaintiff for or in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action.”

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15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(2) (emphasis added). Pursuant to this provision and in accordance with

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the accepted Offer of Judgment (Doc. 39, Exhibit A), Moshir has moved for attorneys’ fees,

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costs, and expenses in the aggregate amount of $55,047.90 (Doc. 44, at 11). Lamborghini,

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in its Response, argues that Moshir’s motion should be denied in its entirety and, if not, that

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several discrete portions of Moshir’s claimed fees should be denied or reduced as being

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unreasonable (Doc. 45). For the following reasons, the Court awards Moshir a total of

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$22,031.40 in attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses.

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Attorneys’ Fees under the MMWA, 15 U.S.C. § 2310

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Appropriateness of Awarding Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Expenses

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Lamborghini first argues that an award of attorneys’ fees is inappropriate because the

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Offer of Judgment accepted was a fraction of Moshir’s original demand (thereby

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demonstrating limited success in his claims) and the fee request is “grossly disproportionate

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to [Moshir’s] recovery” (Doc. 45, at 1-9). The MMWA does, indeed, allow “the court in its

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discretion [to] determine that such an award of attorneys’ fees would be inappropriate.”

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§ 2310(d)(2). In this case, however, Lamborghini, in its Offer of Judgment (which Moshir

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accepted), specifically offered to award Moshir “a sum equal to the aggregate amount of cost

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and expenses (including attorneys’ fees based on actual time expended) determined by the

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Court to have been reasonably incurred pursuant to 15 U.S.C.A. § 2310” (Doc. 39, Exhibit

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A, at 1) (emphasis added). Consequently, the Court will not find an award of reasonable

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attorneys’ fees inappropriate in this case. Instead, the Court will examine Moshir’s Motion

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for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Expenses for reasonableness with particular attention to the

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discrete portions challenged by Lamborghini.

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2.

Reasonableness of Moshir's Claimed Attorneys’ Fees

The “case law construing what is a ‘reasonable’ fee applies uniformly” to all federal
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fee-shifting statutes. City of Burlington v. Dague, 505 U.S. 557, 562 (1992). In determining

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a reasonable attorney’s fee, the Court must begin with the “lodestar” figure which is “the

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number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation multiplied by a reasonable hourly

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rate.” Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433 (1983). There is a “strong presumption” that

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the lodestar is the reasonable fee. Pennsylvania v. Delaware Valley Citizens' Council for

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Clean Air, 478 U.S. 546, 565 (1986). When deciding the reasonable number of hours

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expended and the reasonableness of the hourly rate, a court may consider: “(1) the novelty

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and complexity of the issues[;] (2) the special skill and experience of counsel[;] (3) the

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quality of representation[;] and (4) the results obtained.” Cabrales v. Cnty. of Los Angeles,

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864 F.2d 1454, 1464 (9th Cir.1988), vacated, 490 U.S. 1087 (1989), reinstated, 886 F.2d 235

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(9th Cir. 1989). Additionally, “[i]n determining reasonable hours, counsel bears the burden

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of submitting detailed time records justifying the hours claimed to have been expended.

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Those hours may be reduced by the Court where documentation of the hours is inadequate;

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if the case was overstaffed and hours are duplicated; [or] if the hours expended are deemed

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excessive or otherwise unnecessary.” Chalmers v. City of L.A., 796 F.2d 1205, 1210 (9th

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Cir.1986), reh'g denied, amended on other grounds, 808 F.2d 1373 (9th Cir.1987) (internal

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citations omitted). The court will adhere to these factors in its analysis of the reasonableness

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of each discrete portion of Moshir’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Expenses.

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a. Attorneys’ Fees, Expenses, and Costs of Pryor, Ramirez &
Amar, LLC
Moshir seeks a total of $5,500 on behalf of his initial attorneys, Luis Ramirez and
Shalev Amar: $5,096.80 in attorneys’ fees, a $350 complaint filing fee, and $53.20 in total
service fees (Doc. 44, at 12). Attorneys Ramirez and Amar performed 20.7 hours of work
between August 2011 and December 9, 2011, including filing the initial and amended
complaint, handling the Rule 16 scheduling conference, drafting the proposed case
management plan and initial Rule 26 Disclosure Statement, and conducting settlement
negotiations with Lamborghini (Doc. 40, Exhibit A(2); Doc. 44, at 5-6). Because
Lamborghini “has no qualm with the time-and-task entries or the billing rate of Pryor,

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Ramirez & Amar, LLC” (Doc. 45, at 16), the Court will not delve deeper into a

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reasonableness analysis.

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The lodestar calculation of 20.7 hours multiplied by $300 per hour yields total

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attorneys’ fees of $6,210. In addition, Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC paid a total of $403.20

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in filing and service costs, yielding a grand total of $6,613.20 (Doc. 40, Exhibit A(1)). Pryor,

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Ramirez & Amar, LLC, however, agreed to accept a total of $5,500 as “payment in full” to

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“resolve all outstanding interests involving the [f]irm,” and Moshir has already transmitted

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payment to the firm (Doc. 40, Exhibit A(3)). Thus, the Court finds the $5,500 in total

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attorneys’ fees, expenses, and costs claimed for Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC reasonable.
b. Attorney's Fees of Rebecca Ruegg

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Moshir seeks $39,978.50 in attorney’s fees, representing 216.1 hours at a rate of $185

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per hour, on behalf of Attorney Rebecca Ruegg (Doc. 44, at 12). Lamborghini objects both

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to the entirety of Attorney Ruegg’s claimed attorney’s fees, and to several discrete portions

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of those fees.

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Aside from the proportionality and limited success arguments discussed above, the

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crux of Lamborghini’s objection to the entirety of the claimed fees is that they were not

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actually “incurred” within the meaning of the MMWA fee-shifting statute, 15 U.S.C.

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§ 2310(d)(2). Lamborghini argues that because Attorney Ruegg is the salaried “in-house

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counsel” of a company where Moshir is both a co-owner and president, awarding any

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attorney’s fees for Ruegg’s work constitutes an inappropriate windfall for Moshir (Doc. 45,

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at 10-11).

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To support its argument, Lamborghini first points to the ambiguous and incomplete

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description of Attorney Ruegg’s professional relationship with Moshir contained in Moshir’s

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Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of the Motion for Attorneys’ Fees.

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Specifically, Attorney Ruegg’s role as general counsel for CellTrust Corporation is disclosed,

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but plaintiff Moshir is described only as having previously worked with Ruegg at CellTrust

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because of his “role within CellTrust”—his ownership interest and presidency are not

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disclosed (Doc. 44, at 9; Doc. 44, Exhibit D, at 3). Lamborghini further avows that Attorney
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Ruegg has informed Lamborghini that she has continued to receive her full salary as general

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counsel during the dispute despite attending Mr. Moshir’s deposition, the mediation

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conference, and having numerous phone calls and email exchanges with Lamborghini during

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normal business hours on weekdays (Doc. 45, Exhibit A, at 2; see Doc. 47, at 6-7).

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Lamborghini also draws attention to the fact that Moshir has not yet paid Attorney Ruegg any

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attorney’s fees for her claimed hours (Id.). Lastly, Lamborghini cites to Moshir’s fee

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agreement with Attorney Ruegg as evidence that Ruegg will be paid only by the fee award

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and not by Moshir: “fees shall be payable upon resolution of this matter, . . . [i]f attorney’s

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[sic] fees or costs are awarded in your favor in this agreement, you agree that all such equal

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to the amount incurred for the work I performed under this agreement will be received by

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me” (Doc. 40, Exhibit B(1)).

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Attorney Ruegg characterizes her attorney-client relationship with Moshir as “separate

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representation of . . . an individual,” regarding a “personal case,” and the work involved as

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“in addition to and completely separate from [her] role as General Counsel for CellTrust

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Corporation” (Doc. 44, at 9). Attorney Ruegg further avows that she “works hours that

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include late evenings, weekends, early mornings, and holidays to ensure that she meets her

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obligations to CellTrust and any separate client she represents” and that CellTrust does not

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and has not compensated her for her representation of Moshir” (Doc. 47, at 6-7). Lastly,

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Attorney Ruegg explains that her fee agreement is a standard form she uses to collect fees

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“only upon resolution of matters” because she “does not maintain a trust account to hold

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client funds” during the pendency of a matter and that Moshir is contractually bound to pay

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the incurred fees regardless of a fee award (Id. at 7).

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The record available to the Court does not provide enough conclusive evidence to

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justify denying Attorney Ruegg’s claimed attorney fees on the basis that it would merely be

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a windfall for Moshir. Attorney Ruegg’s sworn characterization of the representation as

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arms-length and requiring personal payment from Moshir for fees “incurred,” regardless of

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the disposition of this Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, is supported by the record before the

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Court (Doc. 47, Affidavit of Attorney Ruegg at ¶ 6(g)). Consequently, the Court will
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examine the reasonableness of Attorney Ruegg’s claimed hours and her rate to create a

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lodestar calculation.

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i.

Block-Billing by Attorney Ruegg

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As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that many of Attorney Ruegg’s time-and-task

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entries, such as the March 19 entry, are “block-billed” in that they contain multiple individual

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and unrelated tasks in violation of LRCiv 54.2(e)(1)(b). Block-billing is not inappropriate per

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se when the party seeking fees meets the basic requirements of “listing his hours and

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identifying the general subject matter of his time expenditures.” Fischer v. SJP–P.D. Inc.,

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214 F.3d 1115, 1121 (9th Cir. 2000) (internal quotations omitted); see Hensley, 461 U.S. at

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433 (noting that although the fee applicant bears the burden of submitting “evidence

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supporting the hours worked and rates claimed,” an applicant is “not required to record in

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great detail how each minute of his time was expended”). While not forbidden by case law,

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block-billing makes it nearly impossible for the Court to determine the reasonableness of the

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hours spent on each task. Where the Court cannot distinguish between the time claimed for

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the various tasks, the Court will reduce the award accordingly. LRCiv 54.2(e)(2); see

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Chalmers, 796 F.2d at 1210.

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ii.

Attorney Ruegg’s Duplicative Efforts

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Lamborghini objects to the reasonableness of Attorney Ruegg billing 26.7 hours of

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time for efforts previously accounted for in the time-and-task entries of Pryor, Ramirez &

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Amar, LLC, such as “reviewing emails, disclosures, and case documents, and researching the

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Arizona Lemon Law and MMWA,” before Moshir chose to change counsel to Attorney

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Ruegg (Doc. 45, at 11-12). “In determining a reasonable number of hours, the Court must

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review detailed time records to determine whether the hours claimed by the applicant were

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unnecessary, duplicative or excessive.” Defenbaugh v. JBC & Assoc., Inc., No. 03–0651,

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2004 WL 1874978 (N.D.Cal. Aug.10, 2004) (citing Chalmers, 796 F.2d at 1210).

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Mr. Moshir originally hired Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC to represent his interests

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in this litigation, however, Moshir fired attorney Ramirez and his firm on December 20, 2012

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and Attorney Ruegg entered a Notice of Appearance on Jan. 11, 2012. Attorney Ruegg
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defends her duplicative efforts as necessary because “when [Moshir] changed trial counsel,

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[Moshir's] case had not been fully briefed and discovery was just beginning” (Doc. 47, at 8).

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Moshir has not, however, provided any legal support to rebut the general rule that duplicative

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hours are not reasonable. See Chalmers, 796 F.2d at 1210; Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433-34.

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Instead, Moshir attempts to distinguish his case from those cited by Lamborghini in support

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of eliminating duplicative hours. Milicevic v. Fletcher Jones Imports, Ltd., regardless of its

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different facts and circumstances, supports the proposition that duplicative efforts are

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unreasonable and may be eliminated from a fee award in an MMWA case. 402 F.3d 912,

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919-20 (9th Cir. 2005).

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A litigant has the right to counsel of his choice in many circumstances, including this

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case. Moshir, however, has presented no legal authority—and the Court has found

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none—that would require Lamborghini to pay for the hours Attorney Ruegg expended to

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become “caught-up” after a change of counsel entirely within Moshir’s discretion. Even if

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the MMWA was to be interpreted to require Lamborghini to subsidize Moshir’s change of

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counsel, the Court will not penalize Lamborghini for Moshir’s choice to replace expert

16

MMWA counsel, Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC, with Attorney Ruegg who was, in her own

17

sworn words, an inexperienced litigator and lacking the necessary competence in the

18

MMWA at the beginning of her representation (Doc. 47, at 8-9). In sum, the Court finds the

19

hours expended by Attorney Ruegg to “catch-up” in this MMWA case unreasonably

20

duplicative.

21

The Court notes that Lamborghini has claimed that 26.7 of Attorney Ruegg’s hours

22

were spent catching up, but Lamborghini has not specifically identified which dates or time-

23

and-task entries total to this number. During its review, however, the Court has found that

24

every entry prior to Jan. 31, except for two 0.5 hour entries on Jan. 10 and Jan. 17, indicate

25

“catch-up” work and total to 25.5 hours. Additionally, a Feb. 8 entry for 1.2 hours describes

26

“catch-up” work (“[e]mails w[ith] prior counsel L. Ramirez re[garding] evidence [and]

27

review of same”) (Doc. 44, Exhibit C(1), at 2-3). In sum, these entries total 26.7 hours, which

28

matches the amount of time claimed by Lamborghini to be unreasonably duplicative. The
- 12 -

1

Court therefore finds the 26.7 hours described above to be unreasonably duplicative and will

2

reduce the reasonable hours component of the lodestar calculation accordingly.
iii.

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Lamborghini objects to the reasonableness of Attorney Ruegg billing 10 hours2 of
time to prepare and file two unopposed extensions of Moshir’s expert disclosure deadline
(Doc. 45, at 15). Moshir argues that these time extensions were reasonable because Moshir
had unique difficulty in finding an expert capable and willing to testify against Lamborghini
(Doc. 47, at 10). Even if Moshir’s claim of unique difficulty in finding an expert were true,
the Court sees no unusual difficulty in drafting and filing two short, stipulated motions for
an extension of time when neither motion included nor required a substantial recitation of
facts or law (Doc. 24; Doc. 27). Moshir has provided no justification as to why Attorney
Ruegg billed 11.6 hours3 to prepare, file, and review these two simple motions. In the Court’s
experience, each motion should have required, at most, half of an hour (0.5) to complete.
Therefore, the Court finds only one (1.0) hour to be reasonable, the remaining 10.6 hours to
be unreasonable, and will reduce the reasonable hours component of the lodestar calculation
accordingly.

17
18
19
20
21
22

Unopposed Extensions of Moshir’s Expert Disclosure
Deadlines

iv.

Motion to Correct Rule 60(a) Scheduling Order

Lamborghini objects to the reasonableness of Attorney Ruegg billing 6.2 hours of time
to prepare and file an unopposed motion to correct the Court's Rule 16 Scheduling Order
(Doc. 45, at 15). In the original order, the Court mistakenly stated a June 29, 2012 discovery
deadline as June 29, 2011, a date that predated the November 28, 2011 order, itself (Doc. 12).
Despite the obviousness of the error, Moshir filed a formal motion and a proposed order on

23
24
25
26

2

Lamborghini has not specifically identified which dates or time-and-task entries total
this number.
3

27
28

During its review, the Court identified eight (8) time-and-task entries related to the
two motions: Feb. 23 for 1.0 and 3.3 hours; Feb. 24 for 0.2 and 1.2 hours; Feb. 27 for 0.7
hours; March 19 for 3.1 hours; March 20 for 1.7 hours; and March 22 for 0.4 hours.
- 13 -

1

Feb. 2, 2012 (Doc. 19), for which Attorney Ruegg billed 3.9 hours4 to research, prepare,

2

review, and file. Moshir attempts to defend the indefensible by claiming that this time was

3

“necessary to have a clear and correct record” and “to avoid relying upon assumption” of the

4

correct 2012 deadline. The Court finds these 3.9 hours to be unreasonable and will reduce

5

the reasonable hours component of the lodestar calculation accordingly.
v.

6

Legal Fees and Costs Associated with Mediation

7

Lamborghini objects to Attorney Ruegg billing 51.4 hours and $1,757.50 in total

8

mediation fees to prepare for and attend a mediation, claiming that the MMWA does not

9

authorize such fees, the amount of fees claimed is unreasonable, and Moshir should bear his

10

own fees because his unreasonable settlement positions are to blame for the failure of the

11

mediation process.

12

First, Lamborghini contends that Moshir “offers no relevant legal authority for an

13

award of fees for mediation preparation and attendance” (Doc. 45, at 13). Moshir, however,

14

relies on the plain-language of the MMWA's fee-shifting provision which allows recovery

15

of “a sum equal to the aggregate amount of cost and expenses (including attorneys' fees based

16

on actual time expended) determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred by the

17

plaintiff for or in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action.”

18

15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(2) (emphasis added). Lamborghini argues that “the commencement and

19

prosecution” of an action includes only litigation and not mediation. To support its argument,

20

Lamborghini cites to Mota v. Univ. of Texas Houston Health Sci. Ctr., 261 F.3d 512, 530 (5th

21

Cir. 2001) for the proposition that “[m]ediation costs do not fall within the limited category

22

of expenses taxable under Title VII.” Aside from not being binding precedent on the Court,

23

Lamborghini’s analogy fails because § 2310(d)(2) allows for the “aggregate amount of costs

24

and expenses,” a much broader fee award than the limited language of 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-

25

5(k), which only allows “a reasonable attorney's fee (including expert fees) as part of the

26
27
28

4

During its review, the Court identified two (2) time-and-task entries related to the
motion: Feb. 1 for 3.2 hours; and Feb. 2 for 0.7 hours.
- 14 -

1

costs.”

2

Unconvinced by Lamborghini’s argument and believing that mediation can be

3

connected to the “commencement and prosecution” of an MMWA claim, the Court reads the

4

plain language of § 2310(d)(2) to allow mediation fees and costs if, and only if, the Court

5

determines that the mediation fees and costs were reasonably incurred in an effort to resolve

6

the litigation (e.g. “for or in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such

7

action”). Consequently, the Court will examine the reasonableness of Moshir’s claimed hours

8

and fees for mediation with an eye towards their connection to resolving Moshir’s claim.

9

Second and third, Lamborghini contends that the amount of fees claimed is

10

unreasonable and Moshir should bear his own fees because his unreasonable settlement

11

positions are to blame for the failure of the mediation process. These two closely related

12

contentions encapsulate the argument that Attorney Ruegg’s time, billed as related to

13

mediation, was not reasonably utilized to advance the resolution of Moshir’s claim, and

14

therefore is not recoverable under § 2310(d)(2). As quoted above, when deciding the

15

reasonable number of hours expended, a court may consider: “(1) the novelty and complexity

16

of the issues[;] (2) the special skill and experience of counsel[;] (3) the quality of

17

representation[;] and (4) the results obtained.” Cabrales, 864 F.2d at 1464.

18

For the first factor, the Court notes that Moshir’s complaint involved a rather simple

19

and straightforward MMWA claim turning on just a few issues of fact. Despite this, Attorney

20

Ruegg claims she required 27.9 hours5 to prepare Moshir’s mediation statement. For the

21

second factor, Attorney Ruegg, herself, argues that she possessed no special skills and such

22

inexperience that she deemed herself to be incompetent without co-counsel (Doc. 47, at 8-9).

23

For the third factor, there is no direct evidence in the record before the Court of the quality

24

of Attorney Ruegg’s representation during the mediation preparation and process.

25

For the fourth and final factor, the results of the mediation reveal the true nature of

26
5

27
28

During its review, the Court identified four (4) time-and-task entries related to
preparation of the mediation statement: May 7 for 7.3 hours; May 8 for 6.3 hours; May 9 for
7.5 hours; and May 10 for 6.8 hours.
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1

Moshir’s position weighs against the reasonableness of his claim for fees. Despite having

2

recently received and disclosed to Lamborghini his expert’s report—a report that did not

3

pinpoint a mechanical defect or quantify in dollars any diminution of value (Doc. 45, Exhibit

4

B, Diminution of Value / Inspection Report, at 88-93)—Moshir demanded $135,000 dollars

5

in damages to settle (Doc. 45, Exhibit A, Affidavit of Michael B. Brewer, at 2). Moshir's

6

demand appears particularly unreasonable because it was $50,000 more than the $85,000 he

7

had been demanding since the beginning of the dispute and before receiving an expert’s

8

report that did not significantly advance his claims. Moreover, at the May 17, 2012

9

mediation, Moshir rejected Lamborghini’s offer to settle for $35,000.6 Yet, one month later,

10

after 35.0 more hours7 of time claimed by Attorney Ruegg and apparently without any

11

significant new evidence, Moshir accepted Lamborghini’s offer of judgment for $35,000 in

12

damages. In his Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Reply, Moshir offers no explanation for his

13

change of heart or rationale as to how the Court can interpret his mediation tactics as

14

something other than a ploy to needlessly prolong the litigation and increase Attorney

15

Ruegg’s fees.

16

Thus, the Court finds that the mediation was not reasonably in furtherance of

17

resolving the dispute. Therefore MMWA § 2310(d)(2) does not provide for recovery of the

18

attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses related to the failed mediation and Moshir should bear

19

his own costs for its failure. The Court has counted a total of 48.3 hours related to mediation:

20
21
22
23
6

24
25
26
27
28

It is unclear if Lamborghini’s $35,000 settlement offer at mediation explicitly
provided for additional recovery of reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses. Moshir
claims that it did not, but has not alleged that accepting Lamborghini’s mediation offer would
have required waiver of Moshir’s implicit right to claim recovery of reasonable attorneys’
fees, costs, and expenses under § 2310(d)(2) (Doc. 47, at 3).
7

Attorney Ruegg's time-and-task entries from the day after mediation (May 18) to the
filing of acceptance of Lamborghini's offer of judgment (June 20), inclusive, total 35.0 hours.
- 16 -

1

27.9 hours8 to prepare the mediation statement and another 20.4 hours9 for preparation and

2

attendance. Additionally, the Court finds that because Moshir could have settled at the May

3

17 mediation on effectively identical terms as Lamborghini’s soon-after accepted Offer of

4

Judgment, the 35.0 hours10 of legal work provided between the failed mediation and filing

5

the acceptance of the Offer of Judgment was an unreasonable and needless furtherance of the

6

failed mediation process, except for 2.0 hours that the Court, in its experience, has found

7

reasonable to prepare and file a Notice of Acceptance of an Offer of Judgment. In sum, the

8

Court finds these 81.3 hours11 and the $1,757.50 in total mediation fees to be unreasonable

9

and will reduce the costs and expenses awarded and the reasonable hours component of the

10

lodestar calculation accordingly.
vi.

11
12
13
14
15

Legal Fees and Costs Associated with Moshir's
Motion for Attorneys' Fees, Costs, and Expenses

In addition to recovery for legal work during the pendency of this dispute, Moshir’s
Motion for Attorney’s Fees seeks to recover a total of 32.4 hours12 of Attorney Ruegg’s time
related to the preparation and filing of the Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Reply. After
accounting for 9.8 hours13 of time-and-task entries already found unreasonable, the Court

16
17
18
19
20
21

8

See n.5, supra.

9

During its review, the Court identified thirteen (13) time-and-task entries related to
the failed mediation, but not to the mediation statement: March 7 for 0.2 hours; March 11 for
0.2 hours; March 15 for 0.4 and 0.2 hours; March 16 for 0.5 hours; March 22 for 2.7 hours;
March 27 for 2.2 hours; April 17 for 0.7 hours; April 18 for 0.3 hours; April 25 for 0.7 hours;
May 4 for 0.1 hours; May 11 for 2.8 hours; and May 17 for 9.4 hours.

22

10

See n.7, supra.

23

11

48.3 hours + 35.0 hours - 2.0 hours = 81.3 hours.

24

12

25
26
27
28

Attorney Ruegg claims 27.4 hours to prepare and file the initial motion and an
additional 5.0 hours to prepare and file the reply (Doc. 44, pp. 5, 8; see Doc. 47, p.11).
13

Specifically, two block-billed entries related to the acceptance of Lamborghini’s
Offer of Judgment: June 19 for 8.7 hours; and June 20 for 1.1 hours. Apparently, Attorney
Ruegg had calculated the entirety of these 9.8 hours as related to the Motion for Attorneys’
Fees.
- 17 -

1

calculates a total of 22.6 hours claimed by Attorney Ruegg related to Moshir’s motion for

2

attorneys’ fees.

3

In the District of Arizona, motions for attorneys’ fees and costs are governed by Local

4

Rule of Civil Procedure 54.2.14 A motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses must “cite the

5

applicable statutory or contractual authority upon which the movant seeks an award of

6

attorneys’ fees and related non-taxable expenses.” LRCiv 54.2(c)(1). “If the moving party

7

claims entitlement to fees for preparing the motion and memorandum for award of attorneys’

8

fees and related non-taxable expenses, such party also must cite the applicable legal authority

9

supporting such specific request.” LRCiv 54.2(c)(2). A motion must also discuss the

10

reasonableness of the requested award, using the factors provided in the Local Rule, such as

11

the time required, novelty of the questions presented, and the customary fee charged. LRCiv

12

54.2(c)(3).

13

While Moshir has complied with LRCiv 54.2(c)(1) and (3), he has failed to

14

specifically cite any applicable legal authority supporting his claim of entitlement to fees for

15

preparing the motion and memorandum for award of attorneys’ fees, as required by LRCiv

16

54.2(c)(2). Specifically, Moshir has made no argument that Attorney Ruegg’s preparation

17

of the Motion for Attorneys’ Fees was reasonably incurred “for or in connection with the

18

commencement and prosecution of” Moshir’s MMWA claim. See, § 2310(d)(2).

19

Accordingly, Moshir has not shown that he is entitled to recovery for the 22.6 hours of

20

attorney time spent in preparing his motion for fees and costs. The court will reduce the

21

reasonable hours component of the lodestar calculation accordingly.

22
23
24
25
26
27
28

14

The district courts are free to adopt local rules regarding the filing of motions for
attorneys’ fees and expenses. See Lytle v. Carl, 382 F.3d 978, 989 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing
White v. N.H. Dep't of Emp't Sec., 455 U.S. 445, 453–54 (1982)); see also Grove v. Wells
Fargo Fin. Cal., Inc., 606 F.3d 577, 582 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Warren,
601 F.2d 471, 474 (9th Cir.1979) (“[o]nly in rare cases will we question the exercise of
discretion in connection with the application of local rules”).
- 18 -

vii.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

During its review of Attorney Ruegg’s remaining hours for reasonableness, the Court
has identified numerous other unreasonable time-and-task entries.
Attorney Ruegg has claimed 2.0 hours15 were necessary to re-mail Moshir’s Second
Supplemental Disclosure statement and file notice with the Court because PACER had an
incorrect address listed for Lamborghini. In the Court’s experience, the correction of such
a minor clerical mistake should reasonably require no more than 0.2 hours, thereby rendering
1.8 hours unreasonable.
Attorney Ruegg has claimed 0.8 hours16 to “[e]mail reminder to [Moshir] regarding
transcript review; discussion re[garding] paid transcript fee” (Doc. 44, Exhibit C(1), at 3).
In the Court’s experience, emailing a reminder to a client and noting that a fee will be
required to procure transcripts should reasonably require no more than 0.1 hours, thereby
rendering 0.7 hours unreasonable.
Attorney Ruegg has claimed 5.8 hours17 for three time-and-task entries regarding
Attorney Brian Foster that, for the reasons discussed below, were unreasonable because they
were either unnecessary or merely mentoring of Attorney Ruegg.
In sum, the Court finds an additional 8.3 hours to be unreasonable and will reduce the
reasonable hours component of the lodestar calculation accordingly.

19
20
21
22
23

Other Unreasonable Hours Claimed by Attorney
Ruegg

viii.

The Reasonableness of Attorney Ruegg's Hourly Rate

Lamborghini has not objected to the reasonableness of Attorney Ruegg’s $185 hourly
rate and Attorney Ruegg has complied with LRCiv 54.2(d)(4)(B) (requiring, “as
appropriate,” a discussion of “the comparable prevailing rate”) (Doc. 44, Exhibit D, at 4-5).
Accordingly, the Court finds Attorney Ruegg’s rate of $185 per hour reasonable and will use

24
25
15

April 10 for 1.2 hours; and April 12 for 0.8 hours.

16

March 7 for 0.8 hours.

17

March 15 for 1.8 hours; March 16 for 0.2 hours; May 7 for 3.8 hours.

26
27
28

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1

this rate in its lodestar calculation.
ix.

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

For the efforts of Attorney Ruegg, Moshir’s motion for attorneys’ fees seeks recovery
of 216.1 total hours of time at the rate of $185 per hour. As detailed above, the Court has
found a total of 153.418 of those hours to be unreasonable. Accordingly, the Court finds
Moshir entitled to recover the remaining 62.7 hours at the rate of $185 per hour. These sums
yield a final lodestar calculation of $11,599.50. Because there is a “strong presumption” that
the lodestar is the reasonable fee, Pennsylvania, 478 U.S. at 565, the Court finds $11,599.50
in total attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs claimed for Attorney Ruegg to be reasonable.

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Lodestar Calculation of Attorney Ruegg's Reasonable
Fees

c.

Attorney’s Fees of Brian Foster

Moshir seeks $2,880.00 in attorney's fees, representing 6.4 hours worked, on behalf
of Attorney Brian Foster. Moshir claims that Foster “was retained to offer advice and
guidance to Attorney Ruegg . . . [,] answer[] questions[,] and offer[] insight to ensure the case
properly proceeded” (Doc. 40, Affidavit of Attorney Rebecca Ruegg, at 4), and that he “was
utilized for 6.4 hours advising and consulting with Attorney Ruegg” (Doc. 44, at 9). Many
of Attorney Foster’s time-and-task entries, such as multiple phone conferences regarding
tactics and “send[ing] sample requests for production and non-uniform interrogatories to R.
Ruegg” (Doc. 40, Exhibit B(1)), are more accurately described as “mentoring” for Attorney
Ruegg than legal services reasonably incurred by Moshir in furtherance of his claim. The
remaining time-and-task entries, such as “review[ing] [the] complaint and amended
complaint” (an activity the Court notes was already performed by three other lawyers),
numerous reviews of various correspondence, and “review[ing] [Lamborghini’s] mediation
memorandum” (id.), are, at best, unnecessarily duplicative of the services performed by
attorneys Ramirez, Amar, and Ruegg.
Moshir defends Attorney Foster’s participation by claiming that because Attorney

26
27
28

18

From subsections II.C.2.b.ii-vii, respectively: 26.7 hours + 10.6 hours + 3.9 hours
+ 81.3 hours + 22.6 hours +8.3 hours = 153.4 total hours.
- 20 -

1

Ruegg lacked civil litigation experience, hiring experienced co-counsel “was necessary in

2

this action to comport with Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct Rule ER 1.1” (Doc. 47,

3

at 8). The Court does not find Moshir’s argument persuasive because Moshir did not enter

4

into a formal fee agreement with Attorney Foster until March 16, 2012 (Doc. 40, Exhibit

5

B(2)), more than two months after Attorney Ruegg began her representation.19 Additionally,

6

Attorney Ruegg’s time-and-task entries do not mention Attorney Foster until February 23,

7

2012, and do not discuss engaging his services until February 24 and March 15, 2012 (Doc.

8

44, Exhibit C(1), at 2-4). Thus, despite her apparent insistence to the contrary, the Court will

9

presume that Attorney Ruegg would not have intentionally violated ER 1.1 by representing

10

Moshir until March 16 without necessary experienced-assistance if she had actually believed

11

that she was incompetent.

12

Lastly, Moshir defends his claim that Attorney Foster’s fees were reasonable by

13

arguing that by primarily utilizing Attorney Ruegg (at an allegedly reduced billing rate) and

14

only supplementing her efforts with Attorney Foster’s greater experience when necessary,

15

total legal fees would be less than “if Attorney Foster had been utilized as sole counsel”

16

(Doc. 47, at 9). The Court finds this conclusion inconsistent with the fees claimed in this

17

case. The Court notes that Attorneys Ramirez and Amar, specialists in the MMWA, required

18

only 20.7 hours combined to complete a majority of the work in this case that was reasonably

19

necessary for pursuing and resolving Moshir’s claim. Moshir has produced no evidence or

20

support that an attorney more experienced than Ruegg, such as Foster, would have required

21

even one-quarter of the 183.7 hours Attorney Ruegg claims were required to finish resolving

22

Moshir’s MMWA claim.

23

Lamborghini cannot be reasonably expected to pay for unnecessarily duplicative legal

24
25
26
27
28

19

The Court notes that Attorney Foster’s time-and-task ledger includes three entries,
totaling 1.3 hours, prior to March 14, 2012 (the day Attorney Foster prepared a Notice of
Appearance). These entries were either duplicative (reviewing previously prepared and filed
materials, mentoring (phone conference with R. Ruegg regarding case tactics), or so
inadequately described as prevent evaluation for reasonableness (“work on claims and
discovery needed to prevail on claims”). See LRCiv 54.2(d)(2).
- 21 -

1

work. See Moreno v. City of Sacramento, 534 F.3d 1106, 1113 (9th Cir. 2008). Thus, the

2

Court finds that Attorney Foster expended zero reasonable hours, that examining the

3

reasonableness of Attorney Foster’s rate is moot, and that the lodestar calculation results in

4

a reasonable fee of $0.00.
3.

5

Non-Testifying Expert Fees

6

Lamborghini objects to $4,647.90 in expert witnesses fees charged by Moshir’s expert

7

as being outside of the scope of the applicable MMWA fee-shifting provision, 15 U.S.C.

8

§ 2310(d)(2): “cost[s] and expenses” are recoverable if “determined by the court to have been

9

reasonably incurred by the plaintiff for or in connection with the commencement and

10

prosecution” of the action. Moshir relies on the plain language of § 2310(d)(2) to argue that

11

his expert fees are a “cost or expense” that was “reasonably incurred . . . in connection with

12

the . . . prosecution” of the action. On this issue, apparently of first impression within the

13

Ninth Circuit, the Court agrees with Moshir.

14

Lamborghini has offered no legal authority contradicting Moshir’s plain-meaning

15

interpretation of § 2310(d)(2).20 The Court, in its research, has found no binding or

16

conclusive authority supporting either party. Because of this, the Court must rely on its

17

interpretation of the plain-language of the statute. Here, Moshir had “retained [his] expert[]

18

in anticipation of trial” (Doc. 47, at 11) and to evaluate Moshir’s vehicle for defects,

19

calculate a diminution of value, and prepare an expert report. Hiring an expert for these

20

reasons is certainly a reasonable pre-trial step in a MMWA action involving an allegedly

21

defective high-performance sports car where the defendant claims that no defect exists. Thus,

22

the Court finds that, within the plain-language of § 2310(d)(2), this expert witness fee can

23

be considered to have been “reasonably incurred” by Moshir “in connection with the . . .

24

prosecution” of this action. The Court also notes that Lamborghini has not objected to the

25
26
27
28

20

Instead, Lamborghini only highlights the lack of analogy and binding precedence
of Moshir's citation to Holmes v. LG Marin Corp., 521 S.E.2d 528 (Va. 1999), and attacks
the impact on the merits that Moshir’s expert may have had if the case proceeded to trial.
Neither reason, however, changes the plain meaning of the statute.
- 22 -

1

reasonableness of the dollar amount of the expert witness fee. Accordingly, the Court finds

2

the $4,647.90 in expert witness fees reasonable and will include them in its final award.
4.

3

Transcript Fee

4

Included in Moshir’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees is a claim for the recovery of

5

$284.00 in deposition transcription expenses. Although Moshir has not clarified their use or

6

reasonable necessity, Lamborghini has not objected to their reasonableness. Accordingly, the

7

Court finds the $284.00 in expenses reasonable and will include them in its final award.
5.

8

Total Calculation of Award Amount

Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Expenses:

9
10

Pryor, Ramirez & Amar: $5,500 (includes complaint filing and service fees)

11

Rebecca Ruegg: $11,599.50

12

Brian Foster: $0.00

13

Mediation Fees: $0.00

14

Expert Witness Fees: $4,647.90

15

Deposition Transcript Fee: $284.00

16

Total: $22,031.40

17

III.

CONCLUSION

18

Accordingly,

19

IT IS ORDERED granting Moshir’s Motion to Strike Lamborghini’s Amended

20

Response to Moshir’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees (Doc. 46). Doc. 46 is stricken.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED overruling Moshir’s evidentiary objections in

21
22

Moshir’s Reply to Lamborghini’s Response (Doc. 47).

23

///

24

///

25

///

26

///

27

///

28

///
- 23 -

1

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED granting in part and denying in part Moshir’s Motion

2

for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Expenses (Doc. 40), and awarding Moshir a total of

3

$22,031.40 in attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, as described above.

4

DATED this 26th day of February, 2013.

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