Venegas et al v. Murray Drywall and Insulation of Texas Inc et al

Filing 50

ORDER granting 49 Motion for Attorney Fees. Plaintiff's are awarded attorney fees and costs in the amount of $30,000.00. Signed by Judge Susan Webber Wright on 5/27/2014. (jak)

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

MARCO ANTONIO VENEGAS, ET AL.,
on behalf of themselves and all others
similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
MURRAY DRYWALL AND
INSULATION OF TEXAS, INC. and
LUCAS ENTERPRISES, INC.,
Defendants.

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No. 3:13CV00036 SWW

Order
Before the Court is plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees and costs to which there has been no
response. Plaintiffs’ counsel states defendant Murray Drywall will not oppose a request for fees and
costs that does not exceed $30,000.00.
Section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) provides, in part:
“The court in such action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff or plaintiffs,
allow a reasonable attorney’s fee to be paid by the defendant, and costs of the action.” An award of
attorney’s fees and costs to the prevailing employee is mandatory under § 216(b) but the amount of
the award is within the discretion of the court. See Jarrett v. ERC Properties, Inc., 211 F.3d 1078,
1084 (8th Cir. 2000)(review of award of FLSA fees for abuse of discretion).
In the Eighth Circuit, the procedure used for determining an attorney’s fee award is to
compute the base “lodestar” figure by multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended by
reasonable hourly rates. See Fish v. St. Cloud State Univ., 295 F.3d 849, 851 (8th Cir. 2002). The fee
applicant bears the burden of establishing entitlement to an award and documenting the appropriate

hours expended. Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424 (1983). In determining the amount of attorney’s
fees, the Court may consider:
(1) the time and labor required; (2) the novelty and difficulty of the questions; (3) the
skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (4) the preclusion of employment
by the attorney due to acceptance of the case; (5) the customary fee; (6) whether the
fee is fixed or contingent; (7) time limitations imposed by the client or the
circumstances; (8) the amount involved and the results obtained; (9) the experience,
reputation, and ability of the attorneys; (10) the “undesirability” of the case; (11) the
nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; and (12) awards in
similar cases.
Id. at 430, n.3.
Plaintiffs state the hours they spent prosecuting the case multiplied by their hourly rates
amounts to $53,727.50 in fees. They assert convincingly that the hours expended and the hourly rates
charged are reasonable. They also claim $973.02 in costs. Plaintiffs state, however, that they have
agreed to reduce their fees and costs to the amount Defendant Murray Drywall has agreed to pay,
$30,000.00.
Considering all the Hensley factors, the Court finds the motion for an award of attorneys’ fees
and costs [ECF No. 49] should be granted. Plaintiffs are awarded attorney fees and costs in the
amount of $30,000.00.
SO ORDERED this 27th day of May, 2014.

/s/Susan Webber Wright
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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