Spears v. Hughes et al

Filing 170

ORDER granting as modified 165 Motion for fees and taxable costs. The Court awards a reasonable attorney's fee of $15,920.00 and taxable costs of $390. Brick's 166 reimbursement request is allowed in full with one addition. Th e total reimbursement is $1,275.45. The Court has consulted the Clerk, and the Library Fund can afford to reimburse counsel. The Court directs the Clerk to do so and to put a copy of this Order and 166 in the Library Fund file. The Court will enter an Amended Judgment with specifics about the attorney's fee and taxable costs. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 5/4/2017. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EASTERN DIVISION
PLAINTIFF

JAMES SPEARS, JR.

v.

No. 2:14-cv-2-DPM

JEFFREY HUGHES, Sergeant,
East Arkansas Regional Unit

DEFENDANT
ORDER

1. Appointed counsel's motion for fees and taxable costs, NQ 165, is

granted as modified.

The Court awards a reasonable attorney's fee of

$15,920.00 and taxable costs of $390.
The Court used the following hourly rates:
Mr. Brick

- 89.75 hours x $160

Ms. Howard - 19.5 hours x $80
These are less than the rates requested. NQ 169 at 2. But the relevant statute
sets the maximum hourly rate at 150% of the rate paid to court-appointed
lawyers under the Criminal Justice Act. 42U.S.C.§1997e(d)(3). That rate was
$127 in 2015 when Spears' s appointed lawyer started working on this case
and increased to $129 in 2016. Considering all the material circumstances,
including experience and expertise, the kind of work done, the statutory cap,
and the local market rates, the Court concludes that$160-thatis, 125% of the

blended CJAra te from 2015 to 2017 - is a reasonable hour1 rate for appointed
y
counsel's work in this case. And considering the same circumstances, the
Court concludes that an $80 hourly rate for paralegal work is reasonable. The
Court declines, however, to award the $81.25 requested for work that Mr.
Brick's law clerk performed.
2. On costs, the Court awards Spears the $350 filing fee* and the $40 trial
witness fee for Christina Gaddy, an ADC records custodian. The Court
declines to award the $50 for private service of the subpoena on Gaddy. Only
the U.S. Marshal's service fee would be taxable as a cost. Crues v. KFC

Corporation, 768 F.2d 230, 234 (8th Cir. 1985).
3. Brick's reimbursement request, NQ 166, is allowed in full with one
addition.

LOCAL RULE

83.6(5).

The various expenses incurred were

reasonable and necessary to the zealous prosecution of this case. While some
of these out-of-pocket expenses could be taxed as costs, FED R. CIV. P. 54(d) &
28 U.S.C. § 1920, collection from the elusive Mr. Hughes is a long shot. It is

·There is a wrinkle on the filing fee. Spears has paid $216.16 of the total
over time. He still owes $133.84. If Spears collects anything from Hughes, he
must promptly pay this balance to the Clerk. If Spears ever returns to ADC
custody, the Court's earlier Order assessing this fee will control, and any
balance will be collected from his prison account over time.
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fairer to appointed counsel for the Court to reimburse counsel now. The
addition is this: the Court also grants reimbursement of the $50 service fee for
the Gaddy subpoena. The total reimbursement is therefore $1,275.45. The
Court has consulted the Clerk, and the Library Fund can afford to reimburse
counsel. The Court directs the Clerk to do so and to put a copy of this Order
and NQ 166 in the Library Fund file.
4. The Court will enter an Amended Judgment with specifics about the
attorney's fee and taxable costs.
So Ordered.

D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge

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