FREESTREAM AIRCRAFT USA LTD. v. CHOWDRY

Filing 61

ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES TO PLAINTIFF AND AGAINST DEFENDANT: that Defendant Ronni Chowdry shall reimburse Plaintiff for attorney's fees in the amount of $6,156.75 within thirty (30) days of this Order. Signed by Magistrate Judge William Matthewman on 10/20/2017. (kza)

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UN I TED STATES D I STRI COU RT CT SO UTHERN D I STRI O F FLORI A CT D Ci lN o.1 c 81 vi 6- v- 232- A TTH EW M A N M FR EESTREAM A I RAFT U SA LTD . RC , Pl n if aitf , F L Db IE y C. . 2s1 2 2 2 1 27 RON N ICH OW D RY ,d/ / A TLA S A V I TI ba A ON SA LES A N D LEA SI G,a k/ A TLA S A V I TI , N / a A ON SuR tbLR' I. cEE M Asr R TVN P T E s fu J olMI : . D. zf ,.uv.8s o! , i é? . I . .' . . D e e nt f nda . O R D ER A W A R DI G A TTO R N EY ' FEES TO PL AI TI A N D A G A I ST N S N FF N D EFEN D AN T TH I CA U SE i be or t Co t upon Pl i if Fr s r m A ic a t U SA , Lt ' S s f e he ur a ntf , ee tea rr f d.s Cû ai if' Memor pl ntf ) andum i Su tof Pli ifs Fee Awad (t e r ndum' g 471 n ppor antf' r tM mo a ' DE . ) De e nt Ro Chowdr d/ / Atas Avi ton Saes a Le i a k/ Ata Aviton,has f nda , nni y ba l ai l nd asng / a ls ai fl aRe pons g 5 .Thi mat i now rpef rr e ied s e DE 21 s ter s i o eviw. BA C K G R O UN D On Se em be 27,201 t unde s gned e e e an O r r G r ntng i Pa ta Denyi pt r 7, he ri nt r d de a i n r nd ng i P r Plitf sM oin f rS n to sg 4 1 n a t an if to o a cin DE 4 .TheCo r g a tda a r o at r e sfe u t r ne n wad f to n y' e s i f n avor of Pl ntf a a ns Def nt purua t Rul 37( ( ( a t i rnt ai if nd gai t enda s nt o e b)2)C) nd he nhee a to iy a d j rs ito o t e Co r. 1 .a p 2. Th a r o fe wa l td t t e uh rt n u idcin f h u t d t . e wad f e s s i e o h mi at ne s f es e nded b Pli ifs c tor y' e xpe y a ntf ouns l i flng and ltgai Pli ifs M oton f e n ii ii tng antf i or Sa tons g 271 1 The Cour r rd Pl ntf t fl a me a nci DE . d. t equie ai if o ie morndum t s r t o uppo t he a o ofa t y' f es a cos sbe ng c ai ed a r qui e D e enda t fl a m e or nd m unt tonw s e nd t i l m nd e r d f nt o ie m a um i r pons t Pl ntf sm e o andum . 1 n es e o ai if m r d. 1 I Pl ntf s M e or ndum , i c am s t t is at eys e n ai if m a t li ha t tom xpende 37. ho s i d 4 ur n r ea c ng a dr f i t m oton f s nc i a r pl pr - oton ana ys s a e f t t es r hi nd a tng he i or a tons nd e y, e m i l i , nd f or s o c n e .g 4 , 2) Plitf a dto al sae t a i ic re at tl f$ ,7 i atnzy' o f r DE 7 p. . an if d iin ly tts h t t n u rd oa o 296 4 n to e s f es f r t dr hi a a g ng of t moton f s nc i . I a p. 3. Ata d t t e o he a ng nd r ui he i or a tons d. t tche o he M e rnd i t Afi vi ofLa e F.Loui.g 47- 1 moa um s he fda t ur n s DE 1. I rs n e pons ,De e ntfrtnot t tt m oto f s nc i wa 1 page i l ngt e f nda is es ha he i n or a tons s 4 s n e h, onl ctdt s ve c e ,andc ane 2- pa sofquotd maeil DE 52,p.1 .Dee t y ie o e n ass onti d 3 ge e tra.( j fndan ne a g s t tt 7. hour of bilng fom be or t dr hi of t moton f s tons xt r ue ha he 4 s li r f e he a ng he i or anci s d notbe i ude i t f a r I a p.2. Def nda con e t tt ho slse by houl ncl d n he ee wa d. d t e nt t nds ha he ur itd c ouns li t t bl af i d t M s Loui afi vi c a nsm or hour t n M s Loui 'nar a i e n he a e fxe o . s' fda t ont i e s ha . s r tve a boutho t hour wer s ntdoe . I a p.3. Def ndan as e t t tt Afi ts itd w he s e pe s d t e t s rs ha he fdavi ubm te by Pli ifsc a ntf ouns doesno c an i n ie z d b e kdown orde al d tm e s e s'a f l el t ont i û t mi e r a a t ie i -he t' nd ais t di c s t C oc l m ar t r t f l w ye s t r l tve co pl t of t s c e or e n t o s us he û a l ke a es or a r , he e a i m exiy hi as ve he p riua q aiiains o c u s lt two l j siy ez n e b l n rts' 1 .a p 5 a t lr u lfc t c o f o n e ha u d u tf l c d il g ae . d t . . ha i ' De e ntmai ans t tt f e a r cli d i exc sve. I I s ,De e f nda nt i ha he e wa d a me s es i d. n um f ndan diput s t s e bot Pl ntf sc h ai if ouns ' houry r t s a t tm e t tt y bil on t s m a t r I a p. els l a e nd he i ha he led hi te . d t 6. LE GA L STA N DA R D A r s na e at ne s f e a r i çpr pe l ca c a e by muli yi t numbe of ea o bl tor y' e wa d s s o ry l ult d tpl ng he r ho s r a ona y e nde on t ltga i tm e a r as ur e s bl xpe d he ii ton i s e onabl houry r t ' Am .Ci i Li r i s e l a e. ' v l be te Uni v Bar s,1 F. 423,427 ( 1h Ci.1 on . ne 68 3d 1 t r 999)( i Bl v St son,465 U. 886, quotng um . en S. 8 8( 9 4 ) Thi So e tr' yte bea j se f rt r s lso tie b t eatr e S e 8 1 9 ). s t d sa 'ma h n du td o he e ut ban d y h to n y. e l Bar s,l F. a 427 (ii Lo ange v Ste hem,1 F. 776,781( 1h Ci.1 ) The ne 68 3d t ctng r r . ir i 0 3d 1 t r 994). r s bl hour y r t i defne as t t e lng m a ketr t i t r l va l galc m uniy ea ona e l ae s i d he s vaii pr r a e n he e e nt e om t 2 f smia s r c s by l wye s of r s bl c pa a e s ls expe inc , a r put ton. or i l r e vi e a r ea ona y om r bl kil , re e nd e a i ' ' Ba n s l 8F.da 4 6( ot gNo ma v Ho sn Auh o o to r 8 6F.d 1 9 ,1 9 r e , 6 3 t 3 qu i r n . u ig t. fM ng mey, 3 2 2 2 2 9 n ( 1hCi.1 ) 1 t r 999). W ih r ar t t t ofe de e t tt f e cli nts ul pr t eg d o he ype vi nc ha he e a ma ho d oduce i s n uppor ofa t cl i ,i Ba ne t El ve h Cicui ha s a ed, a m n r s, he e nt r t s t t The' eea i ntbea st bur ofe t ihi e il me a doc e i ç pplca f r he den sabls ng ntte nt nd um ntng t a opr a e hour a houry r t . N o m an,836 F. at1 he ppr i t s nd l a es' r ' 2d 303. Tha bur n t de i l ncudesSs yi t c twih s cii a de a ld e denc fom whi t tuppl ng he our t pe fc nd t ie vi e r ch he c tc n de er i t r a ona e houry r t Furhe ,f couns ls d ha our a t m ne he e s bl l a e. t r ee e houl ve m a nt i d r c dst s i a ne e or o how t tm e s nton t dif r tcl i s a t ge r l he i pe he f e en a m , nd he ne a s be t te o tetmee e dt r so g t ob sto t t s fiin u j c matr f h i xp n iu e u h t e e u wih u fce t pa tc a iy s t tt diti c tc a s s t tme cai f e h aci t riulrt o ha he srct our an s e s he i l med or ac tviy . . . . A w e lpr l- epa e f e pe ii a s w oul i l a s m a y,gr ng t r d e tton l o d nc ude um r oupi he tmee ti byt naur oft aci t orsa oft ca e. 1 (iai i nres he t e he tviy tge he s ' d. cttons ' omitd) te . 1 F. a 427. 68 3d t AN A LY SIS A N D DISC USSIO N 1. R easonabl H ourl R at e y e I s e ng r m bur e e f isator y' f es Pl i ifr le on t a f da tofLa e n e ki ei s m nt or t t ne s e , a ntf e i s he f i vi ur n F. Loui , Es , s ppori t c a m e hour y r t of Pl i if s couns l A c or ng t t s q. u tng he l i d l a es a ntf ' e. c di o he a fda t M s Loui bil a t r t of$570 pe hour Dani Crs no,Es ,a sa fa t ne bil fi vi, . s ls t he a e r ; el ipi q. t f tor y, ls a t r t of $320 perhour Cor Gr Es ,a a s it bil a a r t of $ pe hour t he a e ; ey ay, q. n s oca e, ls t a e 480 r ; Courney Roc t,Es ,a pa t ,bil a a r t of$900;a M i ha Cavi a pa a e la t ket q. rner ls t a e nd c el l n, r l ga nd c s ma a e, il a ter t o $ 9 0 p rh u . ( 4 - 1 De e d n a g sta ra o a e a e n g r b ls t h ae f 2 0.0 e o r DE 7 1. fn a t r ue h t e s n bl r t sf Pli ifscouns lwoul be t f l ng:$350 pe hourf bot M s Roc t a M s a e or a ntf' e d he olowi r or h . ke t nd . Loui,$275pe hourf Mr Gr ( wa admitd t t FlrdaBa i 201 ,$ pe hour s r or . ay who s te o he o i r n 5) 250 r f Mr Crs no ( wasa te t t Fl i Ba i 201 ,a $1 f Mr Cal n ( or . ipi who dmitd o he orda r n 6) nd 25 or . vi a 3 p r lg l. g 5 , 6 . aae a) DE 2 p. j The Co thasc i e t afi vi,t s ppori e de e,a t John on f t s ur onsder d he fda t he u tng vi nc nd he s acor . Fis ,w ih r gar t M s Roc t,w ho i a a t ne i N ew Yor of i e of he l w fn',t rt t e d o . ke t s n tor y n k fc r a i n he El ve h Cicui Cour ofA ppe s has he d,a t Sout r D i t i tof Fl i has r c ni e e nt r t t al l nd he he n sr c orda e og z d, t ge r l i he û e eva m a ke 'f pur es of de e m i ng t r as na e ho l r t f hat ne aly, û r l nt r t or pos t t r ni he e o bl ur y a e or a z ator y' s vi s i the pl c wher t c e i f l d.' Bar s 1 F. a 43 s e l t ne s er ce s t ae e he as s ie '' ne , 68 3d t 7; e Hemosla v Coc col Co.Cas No.1 21 8- V,2011W L 936 r il . a- a , e 0- 41 C1 4952a *7 ( D.Fl J y t S. a. ul 1 2011 .l or rt rc non-oc lrts t f a ia mus s t tt r i al kof 5, ) n de o e over l a ae ,he ee pplc nt t how ha hee s ac a t ne pr c i ng i t l lm a ke who a ewilng a abl t handl t c e. Bar s 1 tor ys a tci n he oca r t r li nd e o e he as ne , 68 F. a 437. The Cour fnds t tt r a e pl nt ofa t r ys i So h Fl i t tcoul ha 3d t ti ha he e r e y t o ne n ut orda ha d ve ha e t s c s a m or s ii aly,t di cove y pr ctc i t s c s Ba e upon on t ndl d hi a e nd, e pec fc l he s r a i e n hi a e. s d he Cour ' ow n know l dge a e r e e,t Cour c udes t t M s Roc t ' hour y r t of ts e nd xpe i nc he t oncl ha . ke t s l ae $900 i ve y hi c s r gh, ompa e t t r nge ofr t s c r nty c r i t Sout r Diti tof r d o he a a e ure l ha ged n he he n src Fl i f sm ia s r c by lwye s of r s bl c pa a e s ls e renc a orda or i l r e vies a r ea ona y om r bl kil, xpe i e nd r put i n. See Bi i , a 1 e ato vns t 350,n.2. l t a an houry r t of $ 00 f M s Roc t i nse d, l ae 400. or . ke t s a r as bl and s t e a t r tve t t m os c os y a o m a es a r t f a c pe e e ona e uiabl le na i ha t l el ppr xi t a e or om t nt a r as bl prce l ad parne i t s m ar t w ho coul s es f l handl a r l tvel nd e ona y i d e t r n hi ke d ucc s uly e ea i y smpl m oto f s nc i . Se Naton M ot Cl b,I .v St brd Cas I .Co. N o.1 i e i n or a tons e i or u nc . one ige . ns , 0- 811 CI 201 W L 6729648,*2( D.Fl Aug.2,201 (i ng$400. t bearas bl 57- V, 3 S. a. 3) fndi 00 o e ona e houry r t i r s ndi t a m oton f r pr t ctve or r f a pa t r w ih t e y- i ye r ' l a e n e po ng o i o oe i de or r ne t w nt fve a s e re e) xpe inc . The Cour no es t tt l k of a e r af i vi i s t t ha he ac n xpe t fda t n uppor of t c a m e r t i no t he l i d a e s t f t . A fe a l S he c t e t r t i or a la e,i is l a e r on t que ton a m a a al t r l, t t our , ihe ral ppe l t s t e f n xpe t he s i nd y 4 c i risown knowl e a expe i nc c onsde t edg nd re e once i r as bl a pr m ng e ona e nd operf esa ma f m e nd y or a id pe d n j d me tet rwih o wih u te ad o wi e s sa t v l . No ma ,8 6 n n e n etu g n i he t r t o t h i f t se s o aue' r n 3 n ' F.2d at1 (iai omitd) Ho r wihouta explnai a t why t rmani 303 cttons te . weve, t ny a ton s o he e i ng a t neys s d r ce ve s tor houl e i uch hi h r t a bas d on t Co ts ow n kno l dge a g a es nd e he ur ' w e nd e renc t Cour fndst tM s Loui'houry r t s d be r duce t $375,M r Gr y' xpe i e, he t i ha . s l a e houl e d o . a s houry r t s d ber e t $275,M r Crs no' houry r t s d be r duc t $ l ae houl educ d o . ipi s l a e houl e ed o 250,a nd M r Cal n, houry r t shoul be r duced t $1 1 o 50. vi s l ae d e . 2. Num ber ofH ours R easonabl Expended y N e t C o tm us det nni w he he t ho s bil w e e r s bl I t t bl xt he ur t e ne t r he ur led r ea ona e. n he a e con ai d w ihi M s Loui 'afi vi,i s a e t tPl i if s c t ne t n . s fda t t t t s ha a ntf ouns s nt61 hour t a on t s el pe s ot l hi matr ( 47- 1 TheCour frtnotst tPl ntf scouns di notat h a tmee re te . DE 1 . t is e ha ai if el d tac ny i ntis t t a fda t s t Cou tmus r l on M s Loui 'na i e ast t ts compl t r aed o he fi vi, o he r t ey . s nutv o he a ks eed elt t t f lng a a gui of t m o i n f s nc i . The Sept be 27,2017 he r ng on t o he ii nd r ng he t o or a tons em r ai he m oton w a a oxi a e y 1 2 hour . W he t Cour c i r t l ng h of t he r ng i i s ppr m t l . s n he t ons de s he e t he a i n c nu cin wi Ms Lo s n raie i a pe r t tMr Cavn bi e o y 7. ho r o ti o j n to t . ui' artv , t p as ha . l i l d nl 5 u s n h s h l matr( t9. hour ascl medi t tbl ,Mr Gr bild onl 1 2hour ont smatr( te no 4 s ai n he a e) . ay le y 7. s hi te not 1 2ascli d i t t e) a Ms Loui bil onl 20. hour ont smatr( 29. hour 8. ame n he abl , nd . s led y 6 s hi te not 4 s a dame i t t e .M r Crs no' 3. hour a Mr Roc ts0. hour lsedi t tbl s i d n he abl) . ipi s 7 s nd . ket' 3 s it n he a e a e ac ount d f i M s Loui 'na r tve. r c e or n . s ra i The Co thasc e uly r vi w e M s Loui 'expl na i oft hour bil d r l t d t t ur ar f l e e d . s a ton he s le e a e o he lThe Cour i not fndi t t t s r duce r t w oul ne s arl be t a i abl ts i ng ha he e e d a es d ce s iy he pplc e bil bl r t s i any m o i f a t y' f s w hi h m a be l t r f l by Pl ntf ' c la e a e n ton or tonw s ee c y a e ied ai i f s ouns l e. M o e r t Cour i not m a ng a ne tve com m e on t c pe enc of Pl ntf s r ove , he ts ki ny ga i nt he om t y ai i f c e i t sc e.Quiet t c rr t underi d i veyf la wihLa e F. s ouns l n hi as t o he ontay,he sgne s r amiir t urn Loui, Es ,a know s he t be a hi hl s le e hi l a e r m e y com pe e c q. nd ro g y kil d, t ca , nd xt e l t nt ouns . el 5 m oton f s nc i . Fis ,t Cour a e w ih D e e i or a tons r t he t gr es t f ndants a gum e t tt a t ne s f e ' r nt ha he tor y' e a a d s d not i ude t 7. hour i ur e i ç na yzi D e e nts a w er pr or w r houl ncl he 4 s nc r d n ç l ng a f nda ' ns , i e de ,a atemptng t conf rwih de e e c vi nce nd t i o e t f ns ouns lbef e begi ng t undera t dr f e or nni o tke o a t t M oto f Sa tons ' The Cour onl g a e s nc i f a t e s f es i ur e i he i n or nc i . ' t y r nt d a tons or tom y' e nc r d n pr pa i flng,a a g ng t m oton f s ncton a r pl t r t The Co tdoe not e rng, ii nd r ui he i or a i nd e y he e o. ur s c i rt 7. hour t f l w ihi t s ons de he 4 s o a l t n he cope oft a t ne sf s a a d. he tor y' ee w r Se cond,Pl ntf s m oton f r s nc i was a oxi a el 1 page i l t a di ai i f i o a tons ppr m t y 2 s n eng h nd d no c a n a c pl x a g e s I s d notha t ke over 22 colec i hour t dr f t ont i ny om e r um nt . t houl ve a n l tve s o at a fnai e a l pa moton. The amountoftm e bil i be nd i lz z- ge i i led s yond wha wa nec s r and t s es a y r a ona e Si lry,i s d nothavet n at alof1 5 hour t pr pa ef t he rng on e s bl . mia l t houl ake ot 5. s o e r or he a i t m oto f s nc i ns he i n or a t o . Thid,t na r i i M s Loui a fda t doe s em t be co m e u ae wih bl k r he ratve n . s' fi vi s e o m ns r t t oc bilng. Thi i no pe s i ebe aus i pr ve st Cour fom de e ni whih pori of li s s t nnisbl c e t e nt he tr t nni ng c ton t f e bil d on a pa tc a da e and ort s i r cove a e a whi h i not l i t Pl i if s he e s le r i ul r t / ak s e r bl nd e s . t s he a ntf bur n t pr ry documen is hour ,a Pli if has pr de i ufi int s de o ope l tt s nd antf ovi d ns fce uppor f t t or he hour cl m e s ai d. Fourh,i a ar ba e on t lm ied i or a in be or t Cour t ts r at ne t t ppe s s d he i t nf m to f e he t ha eve al tor ys w e e w or ng on t s m e t s . Thi i not pe m it d. Se N aton M ot r Cl 201 W L r ki he a a ks s s r te e i o ub, 3 6729648 a *2 (çEl c at ne sc rbutonsmus beditnc,a no rdunda ,i or rt t sg a h tor y' onti i t si t nd t e nt n de o mertcompe ai ' . Theewasno ne d f f at ne a aparl lt bei ve i a i nston.) ' r e or our tor ys nd aega o nvol d n r a i l s m pl m o i f s nc i ns el tve y i e ton or a to . 3. C al ul i ofA tor y' Fe A w ard c at on t ne s e l o de t c c a e t a opra e f a a d t Cour tr tm us m uli y t r duc d n r r o al ul t he ppr i t ee w r he t is t tpl he e e 6 r s bl r t of t a t e and pa a e ea ona e a es he tom ys r l gal by t num be of hour t t a e a t l he r s ha r c ualy s ot l s 4 626 a ount f r i M s Loui 'na r tve. Thi t a i $1 , . The Cour w il a s s r ct3. cc ed o n . s ra i 2 t l l o ubta 7 hour bil d by M r Crs no a 3. ho s bil d by M s Loui be aus as e ai a s le . i pi nd 7 ur le . s c e, xpl ned bove, hi t s tm ef l ou sde oft s ope oft a tm e sf esa r i als t i he c he to y' e wa d.Thene t a i $1 31 50. w ot l s 2, 3. Ne ,ûwl nadititc ti t numbe ofhour cli d i unras yhi t xtkl he src our fnds he r s ame s e onabl gh,he c tha t o c ce ;i m a c our s w hoi s t y onduc a hourbyt n - hour a ys s or i m a r duce t r ques e nal i t y e he e td hour w ih a a r s t boa d c . Bi i , 5 F. a 1 s t n c os -he- r ut' v ns 48 3d t 350. H e e,Pl ntf ha not m e is ' r ai if s tt bur n of e t bls ng e il m e t and doc e a i of al of t hour bil d, a de s a i hi ntte nt o um nt ton 1 he s le s r quied. Taki i o a ount a l of t defc e e i t bilng e r e a t e es i e r ng nt cc l he i i nci s n he li nti s nd he xc s ve na ur of tm e bil d, t Cour w il r duce t f a a d by 50% . The t al a t y' f s t e i le he t l e he ee w r ot tonw s ee a r i t e or $6, 56. wa d s her f e 1 75. CO N CLU SI N O Ba e o t f egoi i i he e ORDERED t Def ndan RonniChowdr s l s d n he or ng, t s r by hat e t y hal r i bure Pli iff r is at ne s f es i t a ountof$6, 56. Def ndanti or r d t em s antf o t tor y' e n he m 1 75. e s de e o ma ke s h pa nt wihi t ry ( uc yme t n hit 30) da fom t dae ys r he t t s (r r hi lde. 2Thecac ai woul be$15 tm e 7 5 hour f M r Cavi $250 tmes3. hour f M r lul ton d 0i s s or . l n, i 7 s or . Crs no,$275tm e 1 2 hour f M r Gr y,$375 tm es20. hour f M s Loui,a $400 ipi i s 7. s or . a i 6 s or . s nd . tm es0. f M s Roc t . i 3 or . ke t 7 D O NE A N D O R DER ED i Cha be st s n m r hi Z& a o Oco e, 2017,atW estPal y f tb r m Be ch,Pal Bea h Count i t Sout n Di t i tofFl i . a m c y, n he her s rc or da ' ' w . $ W I A M M A TTH EW M N LLI UN I TED STA TES M A G I STM TE J D GE U

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