Grace Collins v. Richard Rionda Del Castro, et al
Filing
23
ORDER GRANTING PETITION TO CONFIRM ARBITRATION AWARD #1 AND DENYING PETITION TO VACATE ARBITRATION AWARD #18 by Judge Otis D. Wright, II: As the Court finds no basis to vacate, modify, or correct the Arbitration Award, the Court must confirm it. 9 USC 9. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Collins's Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award (ECF No. 1) and DENIES Respondents' Motion to Vacate the same (ECF No. 18). The Court GRANTS Collins's request for pre- and post-judgment interest and AWARDS Collins attorneys fees of $11,772.50. Collins shall submit a Proposed Judgment, including applicable rates of interest, no later than fourteen days after the date of this Order. (lc)
O
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
United States District Court
Central District of California
9
10
11
12
Petitioner,
13
14
15
Case № 2:21-CV-06197-ODW (GJSx)
GRACE COLLINS,
v.
RICHARD RIONDA DEL CASTRO,
ET AL.,
Respondents.
16
ORDER GRANTING PETITION TO
CONFIRM ARBITRATION AWARD
[1] AND DENYING PETITION TO
VACATE ARBITRATION AWARD
[18]
17
I.
18
INTRODUCTION
19
Before the Court are Petitioner Grace Collins’s (“Collins”) Petition to Confirm
20
Arbitration Award (Pet. Confirm, ECF No. 1) and Respondents Richard Rionda del
21
Castro (“Rionda”), Hannibal Production, Inc. (“HPI”), and Speed Kills Production,
22
Inc.’s (“SKP”) (collectively, “Respondents”) Motion to Vacate Arbitration Award
23
(Mot. Vacate, ECF No. 18). For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS the
24
Petition to Confirm the Arbitration Award and DENIES the Motion to Vacate.1
25
26
27
28
1
Having carefully considered the papers filed in connection with the Petitions, the Court deems the
matter appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15.
II.
1
BACKGROUND
2
The present action is the latest in a long-running legal dispute between Collins,
3
on the one hand, and Rionda and his companies HPI and SKP, on the other. The legal
4
dispute arises from a loan agreement (the “Agreement”) between Collins and HPI.
5
(See Pet. Confirm ¶¶ 13–14.)
6
$245,000 to HPI to produce the film Speed Kills.
7
Agreement” or “Agreement”) ¶ 1, ECF No. 1-1.) Both Collins and HPI executed the
8
Agreement. (Id. at 35.2) Rionda executed the Agreement in his capacity as president
9
of HPI, not as an individual. (See id.) The Agreement included an arbitration clause,
10
which required that “[a]ny dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
11
the enforcement, interpretation or alleged breach of this agreement, including without
12
limitation tort claims and arbitrability issues, shall be submitted to and resolved by
13
binding arbitration in Los Angeles, California.” (Id. ¶ 20.)
The Agreement provided that Collins would lend
(Pet. Confirm Ex. B (“Loan
14
The loan matured on April 5, 2018, and remains unpaid. (Pet. Confirm Ex. A
15
(“Final Award” or “Award”) at 21, ECF No. 1-1.) On October 11, 2018, Collins sued
16
Respondents in Maryland for defaulting on the loan and sought repayment and
17
damages. (Pet. Confirm ¶ 24.) Respondents removed the action to federal court and
18
successfully transferred it to the Central District of California. (See Mot. Vacate
19
Exs. 2, 4, ECF No. 18-1.) Respondents then moved to compel Collins to arbitrate the
20
loan dispute, and Collins acquiesced. (See id. Ex. 5 (“Pet. Compel”) at 70, ECF
21
No. 18-1; Pet. Confirm ¶ 26.)
22
Once Collins initiated arbitration with the American Arbitration Association
23
(“AAA”), Rionda and SKP moved to dismiss Collins’s arbitration action as against
24
them on the grounds that Rionda and SKP had not consented to arbitration. (See Mot.
25
Vacate Ex. 9 (“Arb. Mot. Dismiss”) at 92, ECF No. 18-1.) The Arbitrator found that
26
Rionda and SKP were equitably estopped from denying the arbitrability of Collins’s
27
28
2
The Court refers to the pagination in the ECF docket header for all Exhibit citations, including the
Final Award and the Agreement.
2
1
claims. (Pet. Confirm ¶ 29; Mot. Vacate Ex. 9 (“Arb. Order No. 2”) at 100, ECF No.
2
18-1.) Accordingly, the Arbitrator concluded that he had jurisdiction over Collins’s
3
claims against each of the Respondents, including Rionda and SKP, for breach of the
4
Loan Agreement. (Arb. Order No. 2 at 100.)
5
Several months later, Collins filed a First Amended Complaint with the AAA,
6
asserting an alter ego claim against Respondents. (Mot. Vacate Ex. 10a, Ex. 1 (“Arb.
7
First Am. Compl.”) ¶¶ 6–12, ECF No. 18-2.) Respondents objected to Collins’s alter
8
ego allegation, arguing that it exceeded the scope of the arbitration clause and would
9
exceed the Arbitrator’s authority. (Mot. Vacate Ex. 10b at 105–06, ECF No. 18-2.)
10
The Arbitrator concluded that the arbitration clause was sufficiently broad to
11
encompass Collins’s alter ego claims. (Mot. Vacate Ex. 11 (“Arb. Order No. 10”)
12
at 127–28, ECF No. 18-2.)
13
arbitrability under the Agreement, the Arbitrator reasoned it was within his authority
14
to determine the arbitrability of Collins’s alter ego claim against Rionda. (Id.) The
15
Arbitrator concluded that Rionda must arbitrate Collins’s alter ego claim on the
16
grounds of equitable estoppel.
17
jurisdiction over Collins’s claims against Respondents. (See id.)
Further, because the parties had agreed to arbitrate
(Id. at 128.)
Thus, the Arbitrator held he had
18
The parties presented their case at hearing over the course of four days in
19
February 2021. (Award 5.) On May 7, 2021, the Arbitrator issued a twenty-six page
20
Final Award. (See id. at 27.) The Arbitrator held that Collins prevailed on her breach
21
of contract claim and was entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. (Id. at 21.)
22
Further, the Arbitrator held that Rionda was co-liable under a single enterprise alter
23
ego theory for the obligations of HPI and SKP under the Loan Agreement. (Id. at 25.)
24
Accordingly, the Arbitrator held that Respondents were jointly and severally liable.
25
(Id.) The Arbitrator awarded Collins the following:
26
The principal amount of the loan, $245,000;
27
A one-time interest payment of $31,850;
28
3
Prejudgment interest, from April 5, 2018, at the rate of
1
13% per annum;
2
3
Administrative costs and fees; and
4
Reasonable attorneys’ fees of $125,000.
5
(Id. at 26.)3
6
On July 20, 2021, Collins filed the present Petition to Confirm the Arbitration
7
Award in this Court. In response, Respondents filed a Counter-Motion requesting that
8
the Court vacate, or in the alternative, modify, correct, or amend, the Arbitration
9
Award. Collins opposed Respondents’ Motion to Vacate, and Respondents replied.
10
(Opp’n Mot. Vacate (“Opp’n”), ECF No. 20; Reply ISO Mot. Vacate, ECF No. 21.)
III.
11
LEGAL STANDARD
12
Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”)4, if a party seeks to have an
13
arbitration award confirmed by a federal court, “the court must grant such an order
14
unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected as prescribed in sections 10 and 11
15
of this title.”
16
“extremely limited” and “highly deferential.” Kyocera Corp. v. Prudential-Bache
17
Trade Servs., Inc., 341 F.3d 987, 998 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc); Sheet Metal Workers’
18
Int’l Ass’n Loc. Union No. 359 v. Madison Indus., Inc. of Ariz., 84 F.3d 1186, 1190
19
(9th Cir. 1996). Therefore, a court will set aside an arbitrator’s decision “only in very
20
unusual circumstances.” First Options of Chi., Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 942
21
(1995).
9 U.S.C. § 9.
However, judicial review of arbitration awards is
22
A district court may vacate an arbitration award under § 10 only where “the
23
arbitrators exceeded their powers, or so imperfectly executed them that a mutual,
24
25
26
27
28
The Award also noted that, upon Collins’s request, “the Respondents shall deliver documentation
from which she can perfect a security interest and copyright mortgage in the Film.” (Award 25.)
The Arbitrator held that the loan is in default and that Collins would be within her rights to foreclose
on her collateral. (Id.)
4
Collins and Respondents both rely on the FAA for the relief they seek. (See Mot. Vacate 1 (relying
on 9 U.S.C. §§ 10–12 to argue the Court should vacate or modify the Award); Pet. Confirm 1
(relying on 9 U.S.C. § 9 to argue the Court should confirm the Award).) Accordingly, the Court
applies the FAA.
3
4
1
final, and definite award upon the subject matter submitted was not made.”
2
9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). Further, § 10(a)(4) “provides for vacatur only when arbitrators
3
purport to exercise powers that the parties did not intend them to possess or otherwise
4
display a manifest disregard for the law.” Kyocera Corp., 341 F.3d at 1002–03.
5
An arbitrator exceeds her power not by merely interpreting or applying the
6
governing law incorrectly, but when the award is “completely irrational or exhibits a
7
manifest disregard for the law.” Id. at 998. To vacate an arbitration award for
8
manifest disregard, “[i]t must be clear from the record that the arbitrators recognized
9
the applicable law and then ignored it.” Lagstein v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s,
10
London, 607 F.3d 634, 641 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting Mich. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Unigard
11
Sec. Ins. Co., 44 F.3d 826, 832 (9th Cir. 1995)).
12
petitioners to show that the panel committed an error—or even a serious error.”
13
Stolt-Nielsen S.A. v. AnimalFeeds Int’l Corp., 559 U.S. 662, 671 (2010).
IV.
14
Thus, “[i]t is not enough for
DISCUSSION
15
Collins seeks confirmation of the Arbitration Award, entry of judgment in her
16
favor including pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs incurred
17
in this action. (Pet. Confirm 9.) Respondents ask the Court to vacate the Award on
18
the grounds that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority and acted in manifest disregard
19
for the law. (See Mot. Vacate 1–2.) However, Respondents’ arguments are merely an
20
attempt to appeal the Arbitrator’s decision or even seek de novo review. The Court
21
lacks such authority. Accordingly, as the Court finds no basis to vacate, modify, or
22
correct the Arbitration Award, the Court confirms the Award.
23
A.
Motion to Vacate
24
In seeking vacatur, Respondents argue that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority
25
and manifestly disregarded the law by issuing an award against Rionda, who did not
26
sign the Agreement. (Mot. Vacate 8, 12, 21.) In addition, Respondents contend that
27
the Arbitrator’s award of prejudgment interest also reflects a manifest disregard of the
28
law. (Id. at 17–20.) The Court addresses each argument in turn.
5
1
1.
The Arbitrator’s Authority
2
Respondents contend that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority in two main
3
ways: first, by issuing an award against Rionda, a nonparty to the Agreement to
4
arbitrate, and second, by finding that Rionda was equitably estopped from challenging
5
the arbitrability of Collins’s alter ego claim and holding Rionda liable as the alter ego
6
of HPI and SKP.
7
“Arbitrators exceed their powers not when they merely interpret or apply the
8
governing law incorrectly, but when the award is completely irrational . . . .” U.S. Life
9
Ins. Co. v. Superior Nat. Ins. Co., 591 F.3d 1167, 1177 (9th Cir. 2010) (original
10
alterations omitted). “An arbitrator does not exceed its authority if the decision is a
11
plausible interpretation of the arbitration contract.” Id. (internal quotation marks
12
omitted). The “completely irrational” standard is “extremely narrow and is satisfied
13
only where the arbitration decision fails to draw its essence from the agreement.”
14
Comedy Club, Inc. v. Improv W. Assocs., 553 F.3d 1277, 1288 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting
15
Hoffman v. Cargill Inc., 236 F.3d 458, 461–62 (8th Cir. 2001)). An award “draws its
16
essence from the agreement if the award is derived from the agreement, viewed in
17
light of the agreement’s language and context, as well as other indications of the
18
parties’ intentions.” Bosack v. Soward, 586 F.3d 1096, 1106 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting
19
McGrann v. First Albany Corp., 424 F.3d 743, 749 (8th Cir. 2005)).
20
First, Respondents contend that the Arbitrator lacked the authority to issue an
21
award against Rionda because he was not a party to the agreement to arbitrate. (See
22
Mot. Vacate 8.) This argument fails because all Respondents, including Rionda, had
23
moved to compel Collins to arbitration based on the Agreement’s arbitration clause.
24
(Id. at 9–10.) Rionda and SKP—both nonsignatories to the Agreement—had urged
25
the court that the claims against them were so intertwined with the arbitrable contract
26
claims that they should be arbitrated together. (Award 3; Arb. Order No. 2 at 99–100.)
27
Thus, Rionda sought to enforce the arbitration clause of the Agreement and the
28
Arbitrator found him equitably estopped from denying arbitrability of the claims
6
1
against him. (See Award 3.) Given this context, it was not “completely irrational” for
2
the Arbitrator to issue an award against Rionda. See Bosack, 586 F.3d at 1106.
3
Respondents second argument, that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority by
4
finding Rionda equitably estopped from challenging arbitrability and by holding
5
Rionda liable under an alter ego theory, fails for similar reasons. (See Award 4; Mot.
6
Vacate 9–16.) As Respondents had previously urged that Collins’s claims against
7
them were arbitrable, it was reasonable and rational for the Arbitrator to hold them
8
equitably estopped from later denying arbitrability.
9
22 Cal. App. 3d 841, 860 (1972) (“[A] claimant may not voluntarily submit his claim
10
to arbitration, await the outcome, and, if the decision is unfavorable, then challenge
11
the authority of the arbitrators to act.”). This includes arbitrability of the alter ego
12
claims because the arbitration clause unambiguously delegated issues of arbitrability
13
to the arbitrator. The Agreement expressly provides that “[a]ny dispute, . . . including
14
without limitation tort claims and arbitrability issues, shall be submitted to and
15
resolved by binding arbitration.” (Agreement ¶ 20 (emphasis added).) Given the
16
clear language of the arbitration clause and the parties’ express intention to arbitrate,
17
the challenged arbitral conclusions reflect “a plausible interpretation of the arbitration
18
contract.” U.S. Life Ins. Co., 591 F.3d at 1177. As the Arbitrator’s decisions drew
19
their essence from the authority conveyed in the delegation clause, see Bosack,
20
586 F.3d at 1106, Respondents fail to demonstrate that the Arbitrator exceeded his
21
authority by holding Rionda liable under an alter ego theory or determining
22
substantive issues of arbitrability.
See also Lovret v. Seyfarth,
23
Ultimately, Respondents’ ask this Court to reassess the Arbitrator’s legal
24
conclusions. The Court can find no legal basis to do so. “[W]here the question of
25
arbitrability is decided by the arbitrator, we are not at liberty to substitute our own
26
view in place of the arbitrator’s regardless of what our view might be of the
27
correctness of the arbitral decision.” George Day Const. Co. v. United Brotherhood of
28
Carpenters & Joiners, Loc. 354, 722 F.2d 1471, 1476 (9th Cir. 1984). The review
7
1
Respondents seek is simply inconsistent with the Court’s limited role under
2
9 U.S.C. § 10. The Court has no authority to question the Arbitrator’s reasoned legal
3
conclusions.5
4
2.
Prejudgment Interest Rate
5
Lastly, Respondents argue the Arbitrator manifestly disregarded the law
6
because the award of 13% prejudgment interest violates California law.
(Mot.
7
Vacate 17–20.) Respondents also contend the Arbitrator exceeded his authority by
8
awarding 13% prejudgment interest because it is not expressly authorized by the
9
Agreement. (Id. at 18.) Respondents’ arguments are not persuasive.
10
To vacate an arbitration award based on a manifest disregard of the law requires
11
“something beyond and different from a mere error in the law or failure on the part of
12
the arbitrators to understand and apply the law.” Collins, 505 F.3d at 879 (quoting San
13
Martine Compania De Navegacion, S.A. v. Saguenay Terminals Ltd., 293 F.2d 796,
14
801 (9th Cir. 1961)). Moreover, a district court may not vacate an arbitration award
15
“even in the face of an erroneous interpretation of the law.” Id. Rather, “[i]t must be
16
clear from the record that the arbitrators recognized the applicable law and then
17
ignored it.” Lagstein, 607 F.3d at 642.
18
Under California law, “[t]he rate of interest upon a judgment rendered in any
19
court of this state shall be set by the Legislature at not more than 10 percent per
20
annum.” Cal. Const. art. XV, § 1. The Arbitrator’s award of 13% interest thus
21
exceeds the rate permitted. However, Respondents fail to identify anywhere in the
22
record where the Arbitrator “recognized [this] applicable law and then ignored it.”
23
See id. As such, Respondents fail to demonstrate a manifest disregard for the law. See
24
25
26
27
28
5
Respondents primarily argue that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority by issuing an award against
Rionda, but they also contend this demonstrates a manifest disregard for the law. (See Mot.
Vacate 9–16.) However, Respondents fail to show that the Arbitrator “underst[oo]d and correctly
state[d] the law, but proceed[ed] to disregard the same.” Collins v. D.R. Horton, Inc., 505 F.3d 874,
879 (9th Cir. 2007) (alteration in original). Thus, vacatur is not warranted on this basis, either.
8
1
Kyocera, 341 F.3d at 994 (“Neither erroneous legal conclusions nor unsubstantiated
2
factual findings justify federal court review of an arbitral award.”).
Respondents’ argument that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority by awarding
3
4
13% prejudgment interest also fails.
An arbitrator does not “exceed their
5
powers . . . when they merely interpret or apply the governing law incorrectly.”
6
Kyocera Corp., 341 F.3d at 997. Vacatur is not warranted even if the reviewing court
7
“might have interpreted the contract differently.” Bosack, 586 F.3d at 1106. Rather,
8
the sole question for the court is “whether the arbitrator (even arguably) interpreted
9
the parties’ contract, not whether he got its meaning right or wrong.” Oxford Health
10
Plans LLC v. Sutter, 569 U.S. 564, 569 (2013). Here, the Agreement includes a flat
11
13% interest rate on the Loan. (Agreement ¶ 2.) It also provides that “the successful
12
or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover from the losing party or
13
parties reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in that action or proceeding
14
in addition to any other relief to which it or they may be entitled.” (See id. at 30
15
(emphasis added).) The Arbitrator’s award of 13% prejudgment interest was thus an
16
arguable interpretation of the Agreement, whose terms authorize a 13% interest rate
17
and the broadly worded “any other relief” to which the prevailing party may be
18
entitled. As such, the Award did not exceed the Arbitrator’s authority pursuant to the
19
Agreement.
Respondents fail to provide grounds to vacate or modify the Award.
20
21
9 U.S.C. § 10. Accordingly, Respondents’ Motion is DENIED.
22
B.
See
Request to Confirm Arbitration Award
23
Collins requests that the Court confirm the Arbitration Award and enter
24
Judgment in her favor. (See Pet. Confirm.) The FAA mandates that a district court
25
must confirm an arbitration award unless it is “vacated, modified, or corrected as
26
prescribed in sections 10 and 11 of this title.” 9 U.S.C. § 9. Further, this Court may
27
enter judgment because the Arbitration Award issued in this judicial district. See id.
28
(“If no court is specified in the agreement of the parties, then such application may be
9
1
made to the United States court in and for the district within which such award was
2
made.”); (see also Pet. Confirm ¶ 4; Pet. Compel). Collins complied with all the
3
statutory conditions for confirming the Arbitration Award and Respondents failed to
4
establish any ground for vacating or modifying it. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS
5
Collins’s Request and CONFIRMS the Arbitration Award.
6
C.
Interest, Fees, and Costs
7
Collins also seeks pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees and costs
8
incurred in this action. (See Pet. Confirm ¶¶ 36–38, Prayer ¶¶ a–b.) Respondents
9
dispute only the 13% prejudgment interest figure; they do not oppose Collins’s
10
requests for postjudgment interest and attorneys’ fees and costs.
11
Mot. Vacate.)
12
1.
13
As discussed, the Arbitrator awarded Collins 13% prejudgment interest, which
14
(See generally
Interest
was reasonably within his authority and supported by the Agreement.
15
Next, postjudgment interest on a district court judgment is mandatory.
16
Lagstein, 725 F.3d at 1056. “Post-judgment interest should be awarded on the entire
17
amount of the judgment, including any pre-judgment interest,” and is typically
18
“awarded from the date of judgment until the judgment is satisfied.”
19
Postjudgment interest is determined by federal law, Northrop Corp. v. Triad Int’l
20
Mktg., S.A., 842 F.2d 1154, 1155 (9th Cir. 1988), which provides for “a rate equal to
21
the weekly average 1-year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board
22
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for the calendar week preceding[] the
23
date of the judgment,” 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a).
24
postjudgment interest, at a rate determined pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a), from the
25
date Judgment issues in this action until the award is paid in full.
Id.
Accordingly, Collins is entitled to
26
2.
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
27
Collins also seeks attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with this
28
action. (Pet. Confirm, Prayer ¶ b.) The Agreement expressly authorizes recovery of
10
1
these fees and costs. (Agreement ¶ 13.) The Court agrees with the Arbitrator that
2
attorneys’ fees and costs are recoverable. (See Award 21, 26.)
3
Generally, in assessing attorneys’ fees, courts calculate the “lodestar” figure by
4
multiplying the “number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation . . . by a
5
reasonable hourly rate.” Cairns v. Franklin Mint Co., 292 F.3d 1139, 1157 (9th Cir.
6
2002) (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433 (1983)). In determining a
7
reasonable hourly rate, courts consider the experience of the attorneys requesting fees
8
and the prevailing comparable rates in the community. Chalmers v. City of Los
9
Angeles, 796 F.2d 1205, 1210–11 (9th Cir. 1986). District courts may also rely on
10
their own knowledge and experience regarding the legal market. Ingram v. Oroudjian,
11
647 F.3d 925, 928 (9th Cir. 2011). The fee applicant bears the burden of producing
12
evidence that the requested rates are reasonable, and courts may reduce an attorney’s
13
fee award where the documentation is lacking. Camacho v. Bridgeport Fin., Inc.,
14
523 F.3d 973, 980 (9th Cir. 2008); Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433–34.
15
Here, Collins’s counsel, Eric Bensamochan, seeks approval of $695 per hour for
16
27.7 hours billed on this matter (27.7 x $695 = $19,251.50).
(See Decl. Eric
17
Bensamochan (“Bensamochan Decl.”) ¶¶ 2–3, ECF No. 20.) The Court finds that
18
Bensamochan’s hourly rate is high and unsupported.
19
information to establish that the requested rate is appropriate to his skill, experience,
20
or the prevailing market fees. (See id. ¶¶ 1–4.) In addition, Bensamochan was on
21
notice that he would bear the burden of producing evidence to show that the requested
22
rates are reasonable because the Arbitrator had reduced Bensamochan’s requested fees
23
by nearly half due to his failure to provide sufficient evidence. (See Award 26 n.6.)
Bensamochan provides no
24
In 2017, a district court in the Central District of California approved an hourly
25
rate for Bensamochan of $375 per hour, albeit in a bankruptcy proceeding. In re La
26
Casa de la Raza, Inc., No. 9:16-bk-10331-PC, 2017 WL 3661624, at *7 (Bankr. C.D.
27
Cal. Aug. 21, 2017). Bensamochan has not provided any information to explain or
28
support a $320 increase in his hourly rate since 2017. Considering the intervening
11
1
years and the Court’s familiarity with the legal market, and in view of Bensamochan’s
2
failure to support the requested rate, the Court concludes that an hourly rate of $425 is
3
reasonable. See In re City of Redondo Beach FLSA Litig., No. 2:17-cv-09097-ODW
4
(SKx), 2021 WL 5493978, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 23, 2021) (approving a $25 increase
5
in hourly rate for an additional three years of experience). In contrast to the failure of
6
proof regarding his rate, Bensamochan provides adequate support that the claimed
7
27.7 hours were reasonably expended. Thus, the Court AWARDS attorneys’ fees of
8
$11,772.50 ($425 x. 27.7).
V.
9
CONCLUSION
10
As the Court finds no basis to vacate, modify, or correct the Arbitration Award,
11
the Court must confirm it. 9 U.S.C. § 9. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Collins’s
12
Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award (ECF No. 1) and DENIES Respondents’
13
Motion to Vacate the same (ECF No. 18). The Court GRANTS Collins’s request for
14
pre- and post-judgment interest and AWARDS Collins attorneys’ fees of $11,772.50.
15
Collins shall submit a Proposed Judgment, including applicable rates of interest, no
16
later than fourteen days after the date of this Order.
17
18
IT IS SO ORDERED.
19
20
January 7, 2022
21
22
23
24
____________________________________
OTIS D. WRIGHT, II
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
25
26
27
28
12
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?