Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Sumo-Nan LLC

Filing 249

ORDER DETERMINING DEFENDANTS' REMAINING OBLIGATIONS TO LIBERTY MUTUAL. Signed by JUDGE DERRICK K. WATSON on 3/1/2017. (ecs, )CERTIFICATE OF SERVICEParticipants registered to receive electronic notifications received this document electronically at the e-mail address listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF). Participants not registered to receive electronic notifications were served by first class mail on the date of this docket entry

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAI‘I

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE
COMPANY, a Massachusetts
corporation,
Plaintiff,

CIVIL NO. 14-00520 DKW-KSC
ORDER DETERMINING
DEFENDANTS’ REMAINING
OBLIGATIONS TO LIBERTY
MUTUAL

vs.
SUMO-NAN LLC, a Hawaii limited
liability company; NAN, INC., a Hawaii
corporation, et al.
Defendants.

ORDER DETERMINING DEFENDANTS’
REMAINING OBLIGATIONS TO LIBERTY MUTUAL

INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty Mutual”) seeks a
determination of Defendants’ remaining obligations pursuant to the parties’
April 22, 2016 Stipulation. Dkt. No. 207. Under the Stipulation, the Court is to
determine the amount of interest, fees and costs that Defendants1 owe to Liberty

1

Defendants are Nan, Inc., Laumaka LLC, Patrick Shin, Mariko Kaneko Shin, and the Shin Trust
(collectively, the “Nan Defendants”); Su-Mo Builders, Inc., Su Yong Yi, and Maureen D. Yi
(collectively, the “Sumo Defendants”); and Sumo-Nan, LLC (“Sumo-Nan”). Su-Mo Builders,

Mutual following Defendants’ April 2016 payment of principal. Because the terms
of the Stipulation and governing indemnity agreement are clear and unambiguous,
the Court determines that Liberty Mutual is entitled to the following amounts of
interest, fees and costs:
Category
Interest on Payment Bond claim payments
Attorneys’ Fees
Consulting Fees
Travel Expenses
Additional Litigation Costs
TOTAL

Amount
$243,817.22
$434,418.48
$16,631.50
$1,293.51
$7,251.58
$703,412.29

Liberty Mutual is additionally entitled to interest on its fees and costs, which
shall accrue until payment of Liberty Mutual’s fees and costs, as set forth in this
order.
BACKGROUND
I.

Procedural Background
Because the parties are familiar with the proceedings in this protracted

litigation, the Court briefly recounts only those matters relevant to the instant
Motion. Liberty Mutual’s claims arise from a Miller Act bond it issued on behalf of

Inc. and Nan, Inc. entered into a joint venture to operate Sumo-Nan. Su-Mo Builders, Inc. is the
managing joint venturer with a 51% participation interest in the profits and losses. Nan, Inc.
owns 49% of Sumo-Nan. See Order Granting Liberty Mutual’s Motion For Partial Summary
Judgment As To Count I Against Defendant Sumo-Nan LLC, available at 2015 WL 7303523, at
*5 n.1 (D. Haw. Nov. 18, 2015).
2

Sumo-Nan in connection with a construction project at Tripler Army Medical Center
(“TAMC Project”). On May 26, 2011, Liberty Mutual, as surety, issued to
Sumo-Nan, as principal, a Performance and Labor & Material Payment Bond No.
023-017-103, in the penal sum of $15,996,619.00, naming the United States of
America as obligee. As partial consideration for its agreement to furnish bonds on
behalf of Sumo-Nan, Liberty Mutual and Defendants executed General Agreements
of Indemnity, including certain Amendments (collectively, “GAI”). Under the
GAI, each of the Defendants, jointly and severally, agreed to indemnify Liberty
Mutual against any liability for losses, fees, costs, and expenses that Liberty Mutual
incurred as a consequence of issuing bonds on behalf of Sumo-Nan or as a
consequence of a breach of the GAI.
Sumo-Nan was unable to meet its obligations on the TAMC Project, and, as a
result, Liberty Mutual received and paid claims on the Bond, including demands
from Sumo-Nan’s subcontractors and suppliers. Liberty Mutual also made a
demand to Defendants to deposit cash or other property as collateral security to
protect Liberty Mutual from claims on the Bond. When Defendants did not comply
with that demand, and did not indemnify Liberty Mutual for claims paid, Liberty
Mutual filed suit for: (1) Breach of Contract of Indemnity; (2) Unjust Enrichment;

3

and (3) Quia Timet (by means of an injunction preventing the transfer of assets).
Defendants then counterclaimed.
Following several rounds of dispositive motions, the parties entered into a
Stipulation (1) to Dismiss Su-Mo Builders, Inc., Su Yong Yi and Maureen Dee Yi’s
Second Amended Counterclaim against Liberty Mutual Insurance Company [Dkt.
No. 163], (2) to Dismiss Second Amended Counterclaim of Defendants and
Counterclaim Plaintiffs Sumo-Nan, LLC, Nan, Inc., Laumaka LLC, Patrick Shin,
Mariko Kaneko Shin and Patrick Shin, Trustee of the Patrick Shin Trust [Dkt. No.
164] and (3) Regarding Remaining Issues for Trial (“Stipulation”). Dkt. No. 207.
Pursuant to the Stipulation, Defendants paid Liberty Mutual the principal amount
owed ($1,866,989.29) and agreed that Liberty Mutual is entitled to an unspecified
amount of interest, fees and costs pursuant to the GAI. See Stipulation ¶¶ 6-8.
The Stipulation provides:
5.

All Defendants stipulate and agree that each of them are
jointly and severally liable under the various General
Agreements of Indemnity (including the General
Agreement of Indemnity, dated October 10, 2003, as
amended) and are bound by all terms of the various
General Agreements of Indemnity. This stipulation only
applies to the claims of Liberty Mutual in this case and is
without prejudice to any of All Defendants regarding the
applicability of the various General Agreements of
Indemnity with respect to any possible future claim.

4

6.

On April 11, 2016, Nan Defendants delivered to Liberty
Mutual a cashier’s check in the amount of $1,866,989.29
on behalf of All Defendants as partial payment of
Defendants’ obligations under the various General
Agreements of Indemnity. All Defendants agree that this
amount was the correct amount due to Liberty Mutual on
the principal amount paid by Liberty Mutual.

7.

The Parties agree that in addition to the partial payment,
there are additional amounts owed by All Defendants to
Liberty Mutual under the various General Agreements of
Indemnity.

8.

The Parties agree that the partial payment by Nan
Defendants DOES NOT resolve the Nan Defendants’ or
Sumo Defendants’ joint and several obligations under the
General Agreements of Indemnity regarding (a) Liberty
Mutual’s claim of interest owed from the date that Liberty
Mutual made payments under the Payment Bond, which
Liberty Mutual claims is $246,237.58 (up through April
11, 2016), (b) the fees and costs incurred by Liberty
Mutual, and (c) Liberty Mutual’s claim of interest owed
on the fees and costs paid by Liberty Mutual from the date
that Liberty Mutual made such payments, which Liberty
Mutual claims is approximately $24,951.80 (calculated up
through April 15, 2016), which Liberty Mutual claims will
continue to accrue until paid (collectively referenced as
“remaining obligations”).

9.

Liberty Mutual and All Defendants agree that they will
attempt to resolve the remaining obligations of All
Defendants to Liberty Mutual through direct settlement
negotiations or mediation (if agreed by all Parties).

10.

If the Parties are unable to reach a resolution on the above
within thirty (30) days from the date of filing of this
stipulation, the Parties agree to proceed to a jury-waived
trial or hearing before the Honorable Derrick K. Watson
5

for a determination of the amount of All Defendants’
remaining obligations. All Defendants further agree that
they will only challenge the reasonableness of the
amounts of the fees and costs and explicitly waive any
right to challenge the reason why those fees and costs
were incurred. All Defendants agree not to appeal the
Court’s ruling on their remaining obligations. Nan, Inc.
will pay to Liberty Mutual on behalf of All Defendants the
amount determined to be due on All Defendants’
remaining obligations by cashier’s check.
Stipulation ¶¶ 5-10. Unable to reach agreement among themselves, or after several
settlement conferences with the Magistrate Judge, Liberty Mutual filed the instant
Motion. Liberty Mutual asserts that Defendants are obligated to pay it:
(1) $245,726.83 in interest from the date Liberty Mutual made payments under the
Payment Bond; (2) $477,569.29 in fees and costs, including attorneys’ fees and
experts’ fees; and (3) $40,657.15 in interest on the fees and costs. Defendants
oppose the request.
II.

GAI Indemnity Provision
Under the GAI, each of the Defendants, jointly and severally, agreed to

indemnify Liberty Mutual against any liability for losses, fees, costs, and expenses
that Liberty Mutual incurred as a consequence of issuing bonds on behalf of
Sumo-Nan or as a consequence of a breach of the GAI. The GAI indemnity
provision states, in relevant part:

6

SECOND: INDEMNITY – The Indemnitors shall exonerate,
hold harmless, indemnify, and keep indemnified the Surety from
and against all liability for losses, fees, costs and expenses of
whatsoever kind or nature including, but not limited to, pre- and
post-judgment interest at the maximum rate permitted by law
accruing from the date of a breach of this Agreement or a breach
of any other written agreements between or for the benefit of the
Surety and the Indemnitor(s) and/or Principal(s) (hereinafter
referred to as “Other Agreements”), court costs, counsel fees,
accounting, engineering and any other outside consulting fees
and from and against any and all such losses, fees, costs and
expenses which the Surety may sustain or incur: (1) by reason of
being requested to execute or procure the execution of any Bond;
or (2) by having executed or procured the execution of any Bond;
or (3) by reason of the failure of the Indemnitors or Principals to
perform or comply with any of the covenants and conditions of
this Agreement or Other Agreements; or (4) in enforcing any of
the covenants or conditions of this Agreement or Other
Agreements.
GAI (emphasis added).2 Despite the plain language of the Stipulation and the GAI,
Defendants generally dispute any obligation to pay interest, fees, or costs to Liberty
Mutual.
DISCUSSION
The Court first addresses Liberty Mutual’s request for interest on the principal
amount of Payment Bond claims. Liberty Mutual’s requests for fees and costs, and
for interest on fees and costs, are discussed thereafter.

2

The Nan Defendants executed the original 2003 GAI, dated October 10, 2003; and Sumo-Nan
was added as a Principal and Indemnitor by its execution of Amendment No. 9, dated March 25,
2010. See 2015 WL 7303523, at *1 (D. Haw. Nov. 18, 2015); Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of
Mot. at 4-5 and Ex. 4 (GAIs), Dkt. No. 218.
7

I.

Interest
Liberty Mutual seeks $245,726.83 in interest from the dates it made various

payments on Payment Bond claims. It paid $1,866,989.29 to subcontractors and
suppliers on claims made against the Payment Bond from October 23, 2014 through
March 14, 2016. See Declaration of Christine Bartholdt ¶¶ 3-6, Ex. 5 (Spreadsheet
and Cancelled Checks Paid Under Bond No. 023-017-103). Liberty Mutual seeks
interest at the maximum allowable rate of 10%, under Hawaii Revised Statutes
(“HRS”) § 478-2,3 from the various dates that it made the Payment Bond payments
through April 11, 2016, the date that Defendants paid the principal amount of
$1,866,989.29 pursuant to the parties’ Stipulation. For the reasons set forth below,

3

The statute provides:
When there is no express written contract fixing a different rate of interest,
interest shall be allowed at the rate of ten per cent a year, except that, with
respect to obligations of the State, interest shall be allowed at the prime rate
for each calendar quarter but in no event shall exceed ten per cent a year, as
follows:
(1)
For money due on any bond, bill, promissory note, or other
instrument of writing, or for money lent, after it becomes due;
(2)
For money due on the settlement of accounts, from the day on which
the balance is ascertained;
(3)
For money received to the use of another, from the date of a demand
made; and
(4)
For money upon an open account, after sixty days from the date of
the last item or transaction.
As used in this section, “prime rate” means the prime rate as posted in the
Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the month preceding the
calendar quarter.

HRS § 478-2.
8

the request is granted with an interest accrual date no earlier than November 17,
2014—the date of the filing of Liberty Mutual’s Complaint—and denied as to any
interest accruing on Payment Bond claims paid prior to this date.
Under the plain language of the GAI, Liberty Mutual is entitled to “pre- and
post-judgment interest at the maximum rate permitted by law accruing from the date
of a breach of [the GAI].” GAI at 1. Nothing in the parties’ April 2016
Stipulation, which resolved some of the parties’ claims, and established a process for
resolving the balance, alters Liberty Mutual’s entitlement to such interest.
Defendants’ assertion to the contrary is bewildering. According to
Defendants, “the GAI specifically does not obligate Defendants to pay any interest
on any payments thereunder.” Defs.’ Am. Mem. In Opp. at 5 (Dkt. No. 222-2).
Defendants explain that they “did not agree to pay such interest, nor can such an
agreement be implied, because, unlike a promissory note, an indemnity agreement
promises reimbursement of all losses and expenses and does not seek to enrich the
surety by bearing interest.” Id. But Defendants certainly did agree to pay such
interest. The indemnity clause of the GAI says so. The only possible way to read
the GAI in the manner urged by Defendants is to ignore the GAI. Moreover,
because the obligation is an express one, there is no need to imply or conjure an
interest obligation.

9

Because Liberty Mutual is entitled to interest on its Payment Bond payments,
the applicable interest rate and the date on which interest began to accrue must be
determined. The former is straightforward; the latter, less so. The GAI does not
prescribe the specific interest rate to apply in this context, other than to state that it
shall be the “maximum rate permitted by law.” HRS § 478-2 fills the void:
“When there is no express written contract fixing a different rate of interest, interest
shall be allowed at the rate of ten per cent a year.” Defendants do not quarrel with
the application of HRS § 478-2, other than to repeat their plainly invalid, and already
rejected, assertion that they are not obligated to pay interest. See Defs.’ Am. Mem.
In Opp. at 7 (“HRS §478-2 is not applicable because the GAI specifically does not []
obligate Defendants to pay any interest on any payments made thereunder.”).
Accordingly, the Court finds that interest should be awarded on Liberty Mutual’s
Payment Bond payments at the statutory rate of 10%.
The interest to which Liberty Mutual is entitled accrues, according to the GAI,
on the date Defendants breached the agreement. See, e.g., Eastman v. McGowan,
86 Hawai‘i 21, 28–29, 946 P.2d 1317, 1324–25 (1997) (Affirming prejudgment
interest awarded “at the rate of 10 percent per annum [in which] the date the interest
was computed from was the date of the breach of the [agreement].”); Sun v.
Makainai, 14 Haw. 495, 496 (1902) (“The general rule is that interest as damages for

10

the breach of a contract should be computed from the date of the breach, or, in other
words, from the accrual of the right of action.”).
Liberty Mutual acknowledges that such a breach occurred when Defendants
“failed and/or refused to exonerate or indemnify Liberty [Mutual].” Complaint
¶ 28; see also id. ¶ 33 (“Liberty [Mutual] has made repeated demands of the
Defendants to comply with their indemnity obligations under the terms of the GAI,
but Defendants failed and refused to perform those obligations.”). Because Liberty
Mutual does not identify the precise date when Defendants “failed and/or refused” to
comply with Liberty Mutual’s demands for compliance with Defendants’
indemnity obligations, the Court determines the date of accrual as November 17,
2014—the date Liberty Mutual filed its Complaint, declaring Defendants in breach.
This date is almost certainly a conservative one. Liberty Mutual, for instance, made
a payment demand to Defendants as late as October 31, 2014, before filing this
lawsuit on November 17, 2014. Complaint ¶ 29, Ex. C (10/31/14 Demand Letter).
Clearly, no lawsuit would have been necessary if Defendants had made payment on
a date prior to November 17, 2014, as they ultimately did on April 11, 2016 after
disavowing their obligation to do so throughout the course of the litigation. But
because the present record does not indicate when Defendants’ refusal to comply
with their indemnity obligations first surfaced, the Complaint date is the best

11

approximation the Court can identify. See Declaration of Sam Barker ¶¶ 7-10
(attached as Ex. 3 to Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of Mot.).
In sum, Liberty Mutual’s request for interest owed pursuant to the GAI is
granted in part. The Court awards Liberty Mutual interest on its Payment Bond
claims at the requested rate of 10%. Because five such payments totaling
$799,280.50 occurred prior to November 17, 2014, the earliest date by which the
Court is certain of Defendants’ refusal to meet their indemnity obligations, interest
on these five payments must be recalculated using a November 17, 2014 accrual
date. The recalculated interest amount owing on these five payments is set forth in
Table 1 below:
TABLE 1
Check
Payee
Payment
Interest*
Date
Amount
10/23/2014 O&E Matias Electrical Service,
$647,704.69
$90,678.66
LLC
10/29/2014 JBL Hawaii, Ltd.
$7,100.00
$994.00
10/31/2014 TAB Engineers, LLC
$53,000.00
$7,420.00
11/13/2014 Hirota Painting Company, Inc.
$65,428.70
$9,160.02
11/13/2014 Pacific SBS, LLC
$26,047.11
$3,646.60
$799,280.50 $111,899.28
TOTAL
*Interest calculations are based on a November 17, 2014 accrual date and a principal
payment date of April 11, 2016. See Bartholdt Decl., Ex. 5 (Spreadsheet).
Interest on the balance of Liberty Mutual’s Payment Bond claims, all of
which post-date the November 17, 2014 Complaint, accrue on the date of payment,

12

as requested by Liberty Mutual, and are undisturbed by the Court’s accrual findings.
These interest amounts are set forth in Table 2 below:
TABLE 2
Check
Date
11/18/2014
11/26/2014
12/03/2014
12/03/2014
12/04/2014
12/11/2014
12/22/2014
01/30/2015
03/11/2015
03/16/2015
04/15/2015
04/27/2015
04/30/2015
05/15/2015
08/19/2015
08/21/2015
03/14/2016

Payee
Allied Pacific Builders, Inc.
Aloha Steel Corp.
Tu’s Plumbing & Contracting
Tu’s Plumbing & Contracting &
Hawaii Energy Systems, LLC
TAB Engineers, LLC
Arcadia
CB Tech Services, Inc.
Hako Plumbing, Inc.
Contract Decor, Inc.
Pacific Recreation Co., LLC
Hako Plumbing, Inc.
Solid Surface Technologies
Resort Management Group, LLC
Sok Su, Inc.
Pacific Preferred Contractors Corp.
Road Builders Corporation
Resort Management Group
TOTAL

Payment
Interest
Amount
$323,858.77
$45,251.50
$31,680.00
$4,357.08
$132,066.80
$17,910.43
$21,463.20
$2,910.76
$40,500.00
$110,451.82
$102,098.00
$60,940.50
$1,870.20
$19,651.25
$28,847.19
$13,530.75
$113,967.36
$9,300.00
$10,800.00
$25,682.95
$21,000.00
$1,067,708.79

$5,481.37
$14,737.00
$13,314.70
$7,296.16
$203.42
$2,110.49
$2,861.01
$1,297.47
$10,834.71
$845.92
$698.30
$1,646.52
$161.10
$131,917.94

The total amount of interest owing to Liberty Mutual on its Payment Bond
claims is therefore $243,817.22.4

4

$111,899.28 + $131,917.94 = $243,817.22
13

II.

Attorneys’ Fees And Costs
Liberty Mutual seeks $477,569.29 in fees and costs, including attorneys’ fees

and experts’ fees, either as “damages” under the GAI or as the prevailing party
pursuant to HRS §§ 607-14 and 607-14.5. See Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of
Mot. at 7 n.2. Liberty Mutual requests attorneys’ fees for two law firms that
worked on this matter: Bronster Fujichaku Robbins and Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura &
Jew. It divides the work performed into two categories: (1) matters relating to
Payment Bond claims; and (2) litigation related to Defendants’ obligations under the
GAI. Liberty Mutual notes that a significant portion of its fees was incurred
defending against Defendants’ Counterclaims, which were voluntarily dismissed
with prejudice pursuant to the Stipulation.
Defendants deny that Liberty Mutual is entitled to any fees or costs, despite
the plain language of the GAI and Stipulation. As discussed below, the Court
determines that Liberty Mutual’s fees and costs are (1) authorized by the GAI and
the parties’ Stipulation; and (2) subject to the Court’s traditional lodestar analysis to
ascertain the reasonableness of the request.5

5

See, e.g., Painsolvers, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2012 WL 2529298, at *10 (D. Haw.
June 28, 2012) (“[A]ttorneys’ fees, whether they are provided for by contract or by statute, must be
reasonable and necessarily incurred by the party seeking the fee award.”) (citing Jenkins v. Wise,
58 Haw. 592, 574 P.2d 1337 (Haw. 1978)).
14

A.

Relevant Law

A federal court sitting in diversity must apply state law in determining
whether a party is entitled to attorneys’ fees. See Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Law Offices
of Conrado Joe Sayas, Jr., 250 F.3d 1234, 1236 (9th Cir. 2001). Under Hawaii law,
“[o]rdinarily, attorneys’ fees cannot be awarded as damages or costs unless so
provided by statute, stipulation, or agreement.” Stanford Carr Dev. Corp. v. Unity
House, Inc., 111 Hawai‘i 286, 305, 141 P.3d 459, 478 (2006) (citation and quotation
marks omitted); DFS Group, L.P. v. Paiea Props., 110 Hawai‘i 217, 219, 131 P.3d
500, 502 (2006) (quoting TSA Int’l, Ltd. v. Shimizu Corp., 92 Hawai‘i 243, 263, 990
P.2d 713, 733 (1999) (“Generally, under the ‘American Rule,’ each party is
responsible for paying his or her own litigation expenses. A notable exception to
the ‘American Rule,’ however, is the rule that attorneys’ fees may be awarded to the
prevailing party where such an award is provided for by statute, stipulation, or
agreement.”)). Because Liberty Mutual is the prevailing party here within the
meaning of HRS § 607-14, and the GAI provides the contractual basis by which fees
and costs should be awarded, Liberty Mutual’s request is granted, as set forth
below.6

6

Although Liberty Mutual frames its request as a motion for damages, the cases it relies upon in
support are factually and procedurally distinguishable. See Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of
Mot. at 7-8. For example, Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. of Am. v. Brenneke was before the
15

B.

Liberty Mutual Is Entitled To Fees And Costs

Liberty Mutual is entitled to fees under the GAI by operation of HRS
§ 607-14, a statutory exception to the American Rule. DFS, 110 Hawai‘i at 219,
131 P.3d at 502. The statute mandates the recovery of fees when a contract, such as
the GAI, provides for the same, in writing, or when an action is in the nature of
assumpsit, and states, in pertinent part:

district court on the insurer’s motion for summary judgment on the issue of damages under an
indemnity agreement. 551 F.3d 1132, 1134 (9th Cir. 2009). Here, Liberty Mutual did not file a
motion for summary judgment on the issue of damages due under the GAI. See Local Rule 56.1
(detailing requirements of motions for summary judgment). Liberty Mutual also cites to Hartford
Fire Insurance Co. v. P & H Cattle Co. as an example of a case in which a court awarded a surety
its attorneys’ fees, costs, and interest under an indemnity agreement. That case too involved a
successful motion for summary judgment on the issue of indemnity. As part of the order granting
summary judgment, the district court also analyzed the insurer’s fee request pursuant to Kansas
law (i.e., “the prevailing party in a lawsuit may recover attorneys’ fees where the fees are
specifically authorized by statute or contract”), concluding that the insurer was entitled to recover
its fees under the terms of the indemnity agreement, and directed the parties “to comply with D.
Kan. Rule 54.2 regarding the procedure for awarding attorney’s fees.” 451 F. Supp. 2d 1262,
1284 (D. Kan. 2006), aff’d, 248 F. App’x 942 (10th Cir. 2007).
Here, Liberty Mutual declared its willingness to comply with the requirements of Local
Rules 54.2 (taxation of costs) and 54.3 (motions for attorneys’ fees and related non-taxable
expenses). See Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of Mot. at 7 n.2. On October 5, 2016, the Court
ordered the parties to comply with the consultation process provided in Local Rules 54.2(c) and
54.3(b) by no later than October 19, 2016. The Court directed Liberty Mutual to file a statement
of consultation as provided by the Local Rules, in the event that the parties were unable to reach
agreement through the consultation process. See Dkt. No. 234. Rather than participate in the
consultation process as directed, Defendants took the position that the Court did not have
jurisdiction to consider Liberty Mutual’s request for fees and costs. See Dkt. Nos. 235, 237, 238,
and 239. These Local Rules, however, do not impose a jurisdictional requirement. See, e.g.,
Klemm v. Astrue, 543 F.3d 1139, 1143 (9th Cir. 2008) (Noting that “filing requirements dictated
by local rules are not jurisdictional.”) (citing Loya v. Desert Sands Unified Sch. Dist., 721 F.2d
279, 280 (9th Cir. 1983)). Nor is there any basis to challenge the Court’s jurisdiction over this
action generally, or over the fee component specifically. In any event, in light of Defendants’
refusal to participate meaningfully in the consultation process, on October 13, 2016, the Court
directed that no further effort was required on the part of Liberty Mutual to comply with Local
Rules 54.2 and 54.3. See Dkt. No. 236.
16

In all the courts, in all actions in the nature of assumpsit and in all
actions on a promissory note or other contract in writing that
provides for an attorney’s fee, there shall be taxed as attorneys’
fees, to be paid by the losing party and to be included in the sum
for which execution may issue, a fee that the court determines to
be reasonable; provided that the attorney representing the
prevailing party shall submit to the court an affidavit stating the
amount of time the attorney spent on the action and the amount
of time the attorney is likely to spend to obtain a final written
judgment, or, if the fee is not based on an hourly rate, the amount
of the agreed upon fee. The court shall then tax attorneys’ fees,
which the court determines to be reasonable, to be paid by the
losing party; provided that this amount shall not exceed
twenty-five per cent of the judgment.
Where the note or other contract in writing provides for a fee of
twenty-five per cent or more, or provides for a reasonable
attorney’s fee, not more than twenty-five per cent shall be
allowed.
HRS § 607-14.7 See also Eastman v. McGowan, 86 Hawai‘i 21, 31, 946 P.2d 1317,
1327 (1997) (Attorneys’ fees may be awarded under HRS § 607-14 “in three types
of cases: (1) all actions in the nature of assumpsit; (2) all actions on a promissory
note; and (3) contracts in writing that provide for an attorney’s fee.”).
Liberty Mutual is the prevailing party because it obtained payment in full of
its Payment Bond claims from Defendants, pursuant to the April 2016 Stipulation.

7

HRS § 607-14 limits the award of attorneys’ fees to 25% of the judgment. Although judgment
has not yet been awarded here, the fees awarded do not exceed 25% of the amount of the principal
payment ($1,866,989.29) made by Defendants to Liberty Mutual on April 11, 2016 pursuant to the
Stipulation. Therefore, the Court finds that the fee award need not be capped in order to comply
with HRS § 607-14.
17

That achievement is consistent with the partial summary judgment against
Sumo-Nan that Liberty Mutual obtained on its Count I claim that “Sumo-Nan
breached its obligations under the GAI.” 2015 WL 7303523, at *1 (“Sumo-Nan is
obligated to indemnify Liberty Mutual under the applicable agreements of
indemnity[.]”); see id. at *4 (“Sumo-Nan breached the GAI by failing to indemnify,
exonerate, and hold harmless Liberty Mutual. Accordingly, Liberty Mutual is
entitled to summary judgment on Count I against Sumo-Nan.”). See Ranger Ins.
Co. v. Hinshaw, 103 Hawai‘i 26, 31, 79 P.3d 119, 124 (2003) (“Neither HRS
§ 607-14 nor HRCP Rule 54(d) require a judgment on the merits. . . . [T]he plain
language of HRS § 607-14 does not require a judgment on the merits. Wong and
Kona Enters. illustrate that a dismissal of Ranger’s action, albeit voluntary, is
sufficient to deem a defendant to be the prevailing party and the plaintiff the losing
party.”) (citing Wong v. Takeuchi, 88 Hawai‘i 46, 49, 961 P.2d 611, 614 (1998), and
Kona Enters. v. Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, 229 F.3d 877, 889 (9th Cir.
2000)); see also Sheehan v. Centex Homes, 853 F. Supp. 2d 1031, 1039 (D. Haw.
2011) (“Under Hawaii law, a party may be deemed the ‘prevailing party’ entitled to
an award of attorneys’ fees under HRS § 607-14 without successfully litigating the
merits of the party’s claim.”). Equally important, Liberty Mutual obtained a
dismissal with prejudice of each of Defendants’ Counterclaims, again pursuant to

18

the Stipulation. Having thus obtained what it asked for in principal, and
conversely, Defendants having obtained nothing, there can be little doubt that
Liberty Mutual is the prevailing party in this action.
As the prevailing party, the GAI holds Defendants jointly and severally
responsible for:
fees, costs and expenses of whatsoever kind or nature including,
but not limited to . . . court costs, counsel fees, accounting,
engineering and any other outside consulting fees and from and
against any and all such losses, fees, costs and expenses which
[Liberty Mutual] may sustain or incur: (1) by reason of being
requested to execute or procure the execution of any Bond; or (2)
by having executed or procured the execution of any Bond; or (3)
by reason of the failure of the Indemnitors or Principals to
perform or comply with any of the covenants and conditions of
this Agreement or Other Agreements; or (4) in enforcing any of
the covenants or conditions of this Agreement or Other
Agreements.
GAI at 1.8 The Court reviews Liberty Mutual’s claimed “fees, costs and expenses”
in the section below.

8

The parties confirmed in the Stipulation that Defendants are bound by the terms of the GAI.
Stipulation ¶¶ 5, 7. Moreover, Defendants acknowledged 8.

. . . the Nan Defendants’ or Sumo Defendants’ joint and several
obligations under the General Agreements of Indemnity regarding
(a) Liberty Mutual’s claim of interest owed from the date that
Liberty Mutual made payments under the Payment Bond, which
Liberty Mutual claims is $246,237.58 (up through April 11, 2016),
(b) the fees and costs incurred by Liberty Mutual, and (c) Liberty
Mutual’s claim of interest owed on the fees and costs paid by
Liberty Mutual from the date that Liberty Mutual made such
19

See

C.

Determination Of Fees And Costs Award

Hawaii courts calculate reasonable attorneys’ fees based on a method that is
nearly identical to the traditional “lodestar” calculation set forth in Hensley v.
Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433 (1983). See DFS, 110 Hawai‘i at 222, 131 P.3d at
505. The Court determines a reasonable fee by multiplying the number of hours
reasonably expended by a reasonable hourly rate. See id. at 222–23, 131 P.3d at
505–06. Hawaii courts consider the following factors:
(1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the
questions involved and the skill requisite properly to conduct the
cause; (2) whether the acceptance of employment in the
particular case will preclude the lawyer’s appearance for others
in cases likely to arise out of the transaction, and in which there
is a reasonable expectation that otherwise he would be
employed, or will involve the loss of other employment while
employed in the particular case or antagonisms with other
clients; (3) the customary charges of the Bar for similar services;
(4) the amount involved in the controversy and the benefits

payments, which Liberty Mutual claims is approximately
$24,951.80 (calculated up through April 15, 2016), which Liberty
Mutual claims will continue to accrue until paid (collectively
referenced as “remaining obligations”).
****
10.

. . . All Defendants further agree that they will only challenge the
reasonableness of the amounts of the fees and costs and explicitly
waive any right to challenge the reason why those fees and costs
were incurred. . . .

Stipulation ¶¶ 8, 10.

20

resulting to the client from the services; (5) the contingency or
the certainty of the compensation; and (6) the character of the
employment, whether casual or for an established and constant
client.
Chun v. Bd. of Trs. of Employees’ Ret. Sys. of Haw., 106 Hawai‘i 416, 435, 106 P.3d
339, 358 (2005) (citations omitted). These factors are “guides” to determining the
reasonable value of services rendered, and the Court is not required to consider each
of them in every case. See id. at 435, 106 P.3d at 358 (citations omitted). In
certain types of cases, some of these factors may justify applying a multiplier to the
“lodestar” amount. See Chun v. Bd. of Trs. of Employees’ Ret. Sys. of Haw., 92
Hawai‘i 432, 442, 992 P.2d 127, 137 (2000).9

9

Under analogous federal law, the Court generally determines a reasonable fee by multiplying “the
number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation” by “a reasonable hourly rate.” Hensley,
461 U.S. at 433. Second, the Court determines whether to adjust the lodestar amount based on an
evaluation of the factors articulated in Kerr v. Screen Extras Guild, Inc., 526 F.2d 67, 70 (9th Cir.
1975), which have not already been subsumed in the lodestar calculation. The Kerr factors are:
(1) the time and labor required, (2) the novelty and difficulty of the
questions involved, (3) the skill requisite to perform the legal service
properly, (4) the preclusion of other 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.
Kerr, 526 F.2d at 70. The first five factors are subsumed in the lodestar calculation. See
Morales v. City of San Raphael, 96 F.3d 359, 364 n.9 (9th Cir. 1996). The sixth factor may not be
considered in adjusting the lodestar calculation. See Black v. City & Cty. of Honolulu, 512 Fed.
App’x 666, 670 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Davis v. City & Cty. of San Francisco, 976 F.2d 1536, 1549
21

D.

Reasonable Hourly Rate

Hawaii courts consider the reasonable hourly rate in a manner virtually
identical to the traditional lodestar formulation, and Hawaii state courts have
considered federal law in determining a reasonable hourly rate. See, e.g., Cty. of
Haw. v. C & J Coupe Family Ltd. P’ship, 120 Hawai‘i 400, 407, 208 P.3d 713, 720
(2009) (determining a reasonable hourly rate based on “the prevailing market rates
in the relevant community”) (quoting Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 895 (1984)).
But see DFS Grp., 110 Hawai‘i at 223, 131 P.3d at 506 (determining a reasonable
hourly rate by calculating average of the four requested rates). Accordingly,
federal case law regarding the determination of a reasonable hourly rate is
instructive in this matter.
In determining the reasonableness of an hourly rate, the experience, skill, and
reputation of the attorney requesting fees are taken into account. See Webb v. Ada
Cty., 285 F.3d 829, 840 & n.6 (9th Cir. 2002); see also Chalmers v. City of Los
Angeles, 796 F.2d 1205, 1213 (9th Cir. 1986) (Listing relevant factors to consider
including the level of skill required, time limitations, the amount involved in the

(9th Cir. 1992), vacated in part on other grounds, 984 F.2d 345 (9th Cir.1993)). Once calculated,
the lodestar is presumptively reasonable. See Morales, 96 F.3d at 364 n.9 (“Adjusting the
lodestar on the basis of subsumed reasonableness factors after the lodestar has been calculated,
instead of adjusting the reasonable number of hours or reasonable hourly rate at the first step . . . is
a disfavored procedure.”) (citations and quotations omitted).
22

litigation, the attorney’s reputation and experience, the quality of the representation,
the attorney’s success or failure in the outcome, and the undesirability of the
case.). The reasonable hourly rate should reflect the prevailing market rates in the
community. See Webb, 285 F.3d at 840; Gates v. Deukmejian, 987 F.2d 1392, 1405
(9th Cir. 1992), as amended on denial of reh’g, (1993) (noting that the rate awarded
should reflect “the rates of attorneys practicing in the forum district”). It is the
burden of the fee applicant to produce satisfactory evidence, in addition to an
affidavit from the fee applicant, demonstrating that the requested hourly rate reflects
prevailing community rates for similar services. See Jordan v. Multnomah County,
815 F.2d 1258, 1263 (9th Cir. 1987). In support of its fee request, Liberty Mutual
submitted two attorney declarations, attesting to the reasonableness of the rates of
the attorneys at their respective firms. See Declaration of Margery Bronster;
Declaration of Roy T. Ogawa.
The three attorneys who worked on this case at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins
charged the following hourly rates in this matter: Margery Bronster, Esq. ($400)10;

10

Ms. Bronster is a partner at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins, admitted to the New York State Bar in
1983 and the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1988. Her typical billing rate ranges from $400 to $650 per
hour. Bronster Decl. ¶¶ 9, 10.
23

Sunny Lee, Esq. ($275)11; and Kelly Higa, Esq. ($225).12 The attorneys from
Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew and their respective rates charged are: Roy T.
Ogawa, Esq. ($250)13; Kurt K. Leong, Esq. ($200)14; and Kelly Higa, Esq. ($175).15
Based on this Court’s knowledge of the community’s prevailing rates, the
hourly rates generally granted within this district, the Court’s familiarity with this
case, and counsels’ submissions, this Court finds that the requested hourly rates
charged by Ms. Bronster, Mr. Ogawa, Mr. Leong and Ms. Higa while at Ogawa,
Lau, Nakamura & Jew are reasonable.16 The rates requested for Mr. Lee and for
Ms. Higa at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins, however, are excessive, and the Court
11

Mr. Lee is a partner at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins, admitted to the Washington State Bar in
2004 and the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2006. Mr. Lee’s billing rate ranges from $275 to $325 per
hour. Bronster Decl. ¶¶ 9, 10.
12
Ms. Higa is an associate at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State
Bar in 2011. Ms. Higa’s billing rate ranges from $225 to $250 per hour. Bronster Decl. ¶¶ 9, 10.
Ms. Higa worked at Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew before joining Bronster Fujichaku Robbins in
March 2015. See Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of Mot. at 12 n.4.
13
Mr. Ogawa is the President and Director at the law firm of Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew and
was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1976. His typical billing rate ranges from $250 to $300
per hour. Ogawa Decl. ¶¶ 1, 6.
14
Mr. Leong is an associate at Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew and was admitted to the Hawai‘i
State Bar in 1991. Ogawa Decl. ¶ 6.
15
Ms. Higa charged $175 per hour on this matter while an associate at Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura &
Jew.
16
The requested rates for Ms. Bronster, Mr. Ogawa, Mr. Leong, and Ms. Higa are well within the
range of hourly rates previously granted in this district based upon each counsel’s respective
experience level. See, e.g., Booth, 2015 WL 4663994, at *3 (finding $500 to be a reasonable rate
for Paul Alston, an attorney with more than 40 years of experience; and $300 to be a reasonable
rate for Donna Marron, an attorney with 20 years of experience); Faith Action for Cmty. Equity v.
Haw. Dep’t of Transportation, 2015 WL 5162477, at *5 (D. Haw. Sept. 1, 2015) (finding $175 to
be a reasonable hourly rate for an associate attorney with five years of experience); Trendex
Fabrics, Ltd. v. Chad Jung Kim, 2013 WL 5947027, at *8 (D. Haw. Nov. 5, 2013) (awarding
attorney with seven years of experience hourly rate of $175).
24

adjusts the respective rates accordingly. The Court awards Mr. Lee $250 per hour
and awards Ms. Higa $200 per hour for her Bronster Fujichaku Robbins time
entries.17 See, e.g., Pelayo v. Platinum Limousine Servs., Inc., 2016 WL 5402185,
at *5 (D. Haw. Sept. 27, 2016) (Setting hourly rates in a manner “designed to place
counsel at the higher end of reasonable rates in this community, given the nature of
this case, to ensure the availability of representation in cases where damages are low
or non-existent, and to avoid stagnation of rates over time.”); Hawaii Def. Found. v.

17

Mindful that a reasonable rate should reflect the prevailing market rates in the relevant
community, the Court finds that a modest reduction is warranted for Mr. Lee and Ms. Higa’s
hourly rates. The Court observes that a wide range of hourly rates has been awarded to attorneys
with five to twelve years of legal practice in this district, the respective levels of experience of Mr.
Lee and Ms. Higa. See, e.g., Pelayo v. Platinum Limousine Servs., Inc., 2016 WL 5402185, at *5
(D. Haw. Sept. 27, 2016) (finding $225 to be a reasonable hourly rate for an attorney with eleven
years of experience); Faith Action for Cmty. Equity v. Haw. Dep’t of Transportation, 2015 WL
5162477, at *5 (D. Haw. Sept. 1, 2015) (finding $240 to be a reasonable hourly rate for an attorney
with twelve years of experience); Hawaii Def. Found. v. City & Cty. of Honolulu, 2014 WL
2804448, at *5 (D. Haw. June 19, 2014) (awarding $200 per hour to attorney with nine years of
experience and $185 per hour to attorney with 7.5 years of experience, respectively); Valencia v.
Carrington Mortg. Servs., 2013 WL 3223628, at *8 (D. Haw. June 25, 2013) (finding that a
partner with twelve years of experience was entitled to a $250 hourly rate and that a fifth-year
litigation associate was entitled to a $175 hourly rate); Yamada v. Weaver, 2012 WL 6019363, at
*3 (D. Haw. Aug. 30, 2012) (finding that attorneys with eleven and six years of experience were
entitled to hourly rates of $225 and $150 respectively); Gunderson v. Mauna Kea Props., Inc.,
2011 WL 9754085, at *6 (D. Haw. May 9, 2011) (awarding $175 per hour for attorney with seven
years of experience and $190 for attorney with nine years of experience); McMillon v. Hawaii,
2011 WL 744900, at *6 (D. Haw. Feb. 22, 2011) (finding $210 to be a reasonable hourly rate for an
attorney with ten years of experience). In light of the spectrum of hourly rates awarded across
different types of cases, and given the Court’s knowledge of the particular facts and circumstances
of this case—including Defendants’ failure to meaningfully oppose the reasonableness of Liberty
Mutual’s requested hourly rates—the Court determines that $250 is a reasonable hourly rate for
Mr. Lee and $200 is a reasonable hourly rate for Ms. Higa while at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins.
25

City & Cty. of Honolulu, 2014 WL 2804448, at *5 n.6 (D. Haw. June 19, 2014)
(collecting cases “discussing the prevailing hourly rates in this district”).
The billing records submitted by Bronster Fujichaku Robbins also include
time entries for Johnny K. Napoleon, Joden Galmiche, and Janis Fenton, who each
performed paralegal work at the rate of $100 per hour. See Bronster Decl., Ex. 7
(Bronster Fujichaku Robbins Invoices). The Court finds that the requested rate is
reasonable for paralegal work. See Booth, 2015 WL 4663994, at *4 (Finding $100
to be a reasonable rate for paralegal work in the community.).
E.

Hours Reasonably Expended

For the same reasons discussed above, the Court finds that federal case law
regarding the determination of hours reasonably expended is instructive in this
matter. The prevailing party bears the burden of proving that the fees sought are
associated with the relief requested and are reasonably necessary to achieve the
results obtained. See Tirona v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 821 F. Supp. 632,
636 (D. Haw. 1993) (citations omitted). Counsel should exclude from a request
time spent that was “excessive, redundant, or otherwise unnecessary.” Gonzales v.
City of Maywood, 729 F.3d 1196, 1203 (9th Cir. 2013) (citation omitted). The
opposing party then bears the “burden of rebuttal that requires submission of
evidence challenging the accuracy and reasonableness of the hours charged or the

26

facts asserted by the fee applicant in its submitted affidavits.” Seven Signatures
Gen. P’ship v. Irongate Azrep BW LLC, 871 F. Supp. 2d 1040, 1055 (D. Haw. 2012)
(citing Gates, 987 F.2d at 1397–98). Defendants, however, made no effort to
challenge the accuracy and reasonableness of the hours (or fees) submitted by
Liberty Mutual.18
The Court has independently reviewed the billing records to determine the
reasonableness of the hours expended and imposes its own reductions. In doing so,
the Court is obliged to explain how it determined a reasonable fee award, but it need
not set forth an hour by hour analysis of the fee request. Gates, 987 F.2d at
1398-99. “Where the difference between the lawyer’s request and the court’s
award is relatively small, a somewhat cursory explanation will suffice. But where
the disparity is larger, a more specific articulation of the court’s reasoning is
expected.” Moreno v. City of Sacramento, 534 F.3d 1106, 1111 (9th Cir. 2008)).
The Court may make a percentage reduction either to the hours claimed or in the
final lodestar figure “as a practical means of trimming the fat from a fee
application.” Gates, 987 F.2d at 1399 (quotation and citations omitted); cf.

18

As noted, Defendants do not challenge specific time entries as unreasonable or improper.
Nevertheless, Liberty Mutual ultimately bears the burden of documenting the appropriate hours
expended in the litigation and must submit evidence in support of those hours worked. See
Smothers v. Renander, 2 Haw. App. 400, 408, 633 P.2d 556, 563 (1981) (stating that it is the
prevailing party’s burden to show the reasonableness of the fee and that the fee is for services
reasonably and necessarily incurred).
27

Morales, 96 F.3d at 364 n.9 (explaining that the preferred method is to adjust hours
claimed and not the final lodestar figure). And the Court generally may “impose a
small reduction, no greater than 10 percent—a ‘haircut’—based on its exercise of
discretion and without a more specific explanation.” Gonzales, 729 F.3d at 1203
(quoting Moreno, 534 F.3d at 1112).19
“[T]he extent of a [prevailing party’s] success is a crucial factor in
determining the proper amount of an award of attorney’s fees[.]” Hensley, 461
U.S. at 440. The Ninth Circuit has interpreted Hensley as establishing the general
rule that “plaintiffs are to be compensated for attorney’s fees incurred for services
that contribute to the ultimate victory in the lawsuit. Thus, even if a specific claim
fails, the time spent on that claim may be compensable, in full or in part, if it
contributes to the success of other claims.” Cabrales v. Cty. of L.A., 935 F.2d 1050,
1052 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing Hensley, 461 U.S. at 435; see also Sorenson v. Mink,
239 F.3d 1140, 1147 (9th Cir. 2001) (Holding that where claims are related, “[m]uch

19

Indeed, the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Moreno explains why the party opposing a motion for
attorneys’ fees bears a burden in opposing the fee request: “the burden of producing a sufficiently
cogent explanation can mostly be placed on the shoulders of the losing parties, who not only have
the incentive, but also the knowledge of the case to point out such things as excessive or
duplicative billing practices. If opposing counsel cannot come up with specific reasons for
reducing the fee request that the district court finds persuasive, [the court] should normally grant
the award in full, or with no more than a haircut.” Moreno, 534 F.3d at 1116. As already stated,
Defendants here made no such effort, either with respect to the reasonable hourly rate or with
respect to the reasonableness of the hours expended, despite the Stipulation limiting Defendants’
challenge to the “reasonableness of the amounts of the fees and costs.” Stipulation ¶ 10.
28

of counsel’s time will be devoted generally to the litigation as a whole. . . . Such a
lawsuit cannot be viewed as a series of discrete claims.”).
Mindful of the principles set forth above, and after careful review of Liberty
Mutual’s submissions, the Court finds that hourly reductions for clerical work,
duplicative time, and block billing are necessary and appropriate.
1.

Clerical Or Ministerial Tasks

Attorney time entries must be reduced to the extent they reflect billing for
clerical or ministerial work. “[C]lerical or ministerial costs are part of an attorney’s
overhead and are reflected in the charged hourly rate.” Jeremiah B. v. Dep’t of
Educ., 2010 WL 346454, at *5 (D. Haw. Jan. 29, 2010) (citing Sheffer v. Experian
Info. Solutions, Inc., 290 F. Supp. 2d 538, 549 (E.D. Pa. 2003)).
The following is a list of tasks previously deemed clerical or
ministerial in this district and therefore deemed
non-compensable: reviewing Court-generated notices;
scheduling dates and deadlines; calendering dates and deadlines;
notifying a client of dates and deadlines; preparing documents
for filing with the Court; filing documents with the Court;
informing a client that a document has been filed; personally
delivering documents; bates stamping and other labeling of
documents; maintaining and pulling files; copying, printing, and
scanning documents; receiving, downloading, and emailing
documents; and communicating with Court staff.
Haw. Motorsports Inv., Inc. v. Clayton Group Servs., Inc., 2010 WL 4974867, at *5
(D. Haw. Dec. 1, 2010), adopted by, 2010 WL 5395669 (D. Haw. Dec. 22, 2010);

29

see also Booth v. Wong, 2015 WL 4663994, at *6 (D. Haw. July 17, 2015)
(“Communications with the court and reviewing notices regarding hearings and
deadlines are clerical and not compensable. Additionally, communicating with
court staff is likewise deemed clerical in nature and is not compensable) (citing
Nicholas M. ex rel. Laura M. v. Dep’t of Educ., 2010 WL 234862, at *5 (D. Haw.
Jan. 21, 2010), and Synagro Techn., Inc. v. GMP Haw., Inc., 2007 WL 851271, at
*12 (D. Haw. Mar. 15, 2007)).
Accordingly, the Court deducts 0.2 hours of Ms. Bronster’s time,20 0.2 hours
of Mr. Lee’s time,21 and 0.2 hours of Ms. Higa’s time spent communicating with
court staff.22
2.

Duplicative Time

The Court does not permit more than one attorney to bill for attending: (1) a
meeting between co-counsel; (2) a client meeting; or (3) a meeting with opposing
counsel. Sheehan v. Centex Homes, 853 F. Supp. 2d 1031, 1039 (D. Haw. 2011).
The duplicative entries for client and co-counsel meetings, settlement conferences,
and strategy meetings between co-counsel are not the types of events for which

20

Ms. Bronster’s clerical entry was on 8/28/2015. See Bronster Decl., Ex. 7 (Invoices).
Mr. Lee’s clerical time entries were on 5/20/2016 and 5/23/2016. See Bronster Decl., Ex. 7
(Invoices).
22
Ms. Higa’s clerical time entries were on 7/20/2016 and 7/21/2016. See Bronster Decl., Ex. 7
(Invoices).
21

30

duplicative billing is permitted. See, e.g., Robinson v. Plourde, 717 F. Supp. 2d
1092, 1099 (D. Haw. 2010) (noting that two professionals cannot bill for attending
the same meeting and “when a party’s counsel meet with one other, the Court
deducts the duplicative time billed.”). “In such a situation, the Court typically
deducts the time spent by the lowest-billing attorney.” Seven Signatures Gen.
P’ship v. Irongate Azrep BW LLC, 871 F. Supp. 2d 1040, 1055 (D. Haw. 2012).
Moreover, although the Court finds that the use of multiple firms is not itself
unreasonable, the Court has carefully reviewed the time entries provided by Liberty
Mutual and finds that many of the hours requested should be reduced for
conferences, meetings, discussions, and email communications, for which multiple
attorneys at the two firms billed. In particular, the Court finds that the hours
charged by counsel for teleconferences and exchanging emails with each other are
excessive and duplicative.23 See Booth, 2015 WL 4663994, at *5 (“Although the
Court understands that a certain amount of collaboration is to be expected when
multiple firms are involved, the hundreds of time entries reflecting time spent by
counsel reading and responding to emails from co-counsel are unreasonable.”).

23

In each instance of duplicative billing, the Court deducts the time entry from the attorney(s)
billing at the lower rate(s), regardless of firm affiliation. That is, for each conference or email
exchange billed by multiple attorneys, the Court awards the time billed to the attorney with the
highest hourly fee, and deducts the time entry from the lower billing attorney(s).
31

Accordingly, the Court deducts 1.9 hours of Mr. Lee’s time,24 20.2 hours of Mr.
Ogawa’s time,25 6.5 hours of Mr. Leong’s time,26 and 6.9 hours of Ms. Higa’s
time.27
As a general rule, this Court allows two attorneys to bill for their appearances
at court proceedings when it is reasonable and necessary for a “second chair” to
appear with lead counsel. Sheehan, 853 F. Supp. 2d at 1044. The Court
recognizes that litigation often requires the participation of multiple attorneys. See
Hawaii Defense Foundation, 2014 WL 2804448, at *8 (Noting that proceedings
may require “the participation of multiple attorneys,” but “overstaffing cases
inefficiently is common, and district courts are therefore encouraged to scrutinize
fee petitions for duplicative billing when multiple lawyers seek fees.”) (citations

24

Mr. Lee’s duplicative time entries were for conferences and communications with Ms. Bronster
on 7/6/2015, 8/4/2015, 9/22/2015, 12/23/2015, 1/8/2016, and 4/7/2016. See Bronster Decl., Ex. 7
(Invoices).
25
Mr. Ogawa’s duplicative time entries were for conferences and communications with Ms.
Bronster and/or Mr. Lee on 3/3/2015, 3/20/2015, 3/23/2015, 3/26/2015, 3/31/2015, 4/1/2015,
4/2/2015, 4/10/2015, 4/11/2015, two entries dated 4/12/2015, 4/14/2015, two entries dated
4/22/2015, 4/27/2015, 4/28/2015, 4/30/2015, 5/26/2015, 5/29/2015, 6/3/2015, 6/5/2015, 6/9/2015,
6/16/2015, 6/18/2015, 6/22/2015, 6/26/2015, 7/6/2015, 7/7/2015, 7/8/2015, 7/14/2015, 7/28/2015,
8/6/2015, 8/18/2015, 8/24/2015, two entries dated 8/31/2015, and 11/25/2015. See Ogawa Decl.,
Ex. 8 (Invoices).
26
Mr. Leong’s duplicative time entries were for conferences and communications with co-counsel
on 3/3/2015, 3/31/2015 and 4/2/2015. See Ogawa Decl., Ex. 8 (Invoices).
27
Ms. Higa’s duplicative time entries were for conferences and communications with Mr. Lee
and/or Mr. Ogawa on 4/2/2015, 5/11/2015, 5/26/2015, two entries dated 6/9/2015, 6/22/2015, two
entries dated 7/2/2015, 7/8/2015, and 11/2/2015. See Bronster Decl., Ex. 7 (Invoices). Because
these entries occurred during her employment at Bronster Fujichaku Robbins, the Court deducts
this time at the awarded rate of $200 per hour.
32

omitted). Indeed, in several instances, several attorneys attended hearings on the
myriad dispositive motions in this matter.28 Those hearings involved multiple
complex issues of law and resulted in extensive orders by the Court. Accordingly,
in those instances, the Court agrees that both counsels’ attendance was reasonable.
3.

Block Billing

In addition to the foregoing reductions, the Court reduces hours due to “block
billing.” Block billed entries generally fail to specify a breakdown of the time spent
on each task. District courts have the authority to reduce hours that are billed in
block format because such a billing style makes it difficult for courts to ascertain
how much time counsel expended on specified tasks. Welch v. Metro. Life Ins. Co.,
480 F.3d 942, 948 (9th Cir. 2007). See also id. (citing Role Models Am., Inc. v.
Brownlee, 353 F.3d 962, 971 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (reducing requested hours because
counsel’s practice of block billing “lump[ed] together multiple tasks, making it
impossible to evaluate their reasonableness”)); see also Hensley, 461 U.S. at 437
(holding that applicant should “maintain billing time records in a manner that will
enable a reviewing court to identify distinct claims”)); LR 54.3(d) (requiring a
“description of the work performed by each attorney and paralegal broken down by
hours or fractions thereof expended on each task”).
28

Four different timekeepers billed for attending some combination of the hearings held on
5/21/2015, 9/18/2015, and 11/13/2015.
33

The Court imposes an across-the-board reduction of 20% as to the entries that
are in the “block billing” format. See, e.g., Painsolvers, Inc., 2012 WL 2529298, at
*3 (reducing block billed hours by 20%); Signature Homes of Haw., LLC v. Cascade
Sur. and Bonding, Inc., 2007 WL 2258725, at *3 (D. Haw. Aug. 3, 2007) (reducing
block billed hours by 20%). The Court deducts 2.3 hours of Mr. Ogawa’s time and
finds that this 20% reduction to the specific entries fairly balances those hours that
were block billed.29
F.

Total Fee Award

Based upon the foregoing, the Court finds that Liberty Mutual is entitled to
the following total lodestar amount, set forth in Table 3 below:
TABLE 3
Timekeeper

Hours
Billed

Hours
Deducted

Hours
Awarded

Margery Bronster
Sunny Lee
Kelly Higa
Roy T. Ogawa
Kurt K. Leong
Kelly Higa30
Johnny Napoleon
Joden Galmiche
Janis Fenton

123.1
507.3
520.8
440.6
93.1
44.7
135.4
0.8
0.7

0.2
2.1
7.1
22.5
6.5
0
0
0
0

122.9
505.2
513.7
418.1
86.6
44.7
135.4
0.8
0.7

29

Rate
$400
$250
$200
$250
$200
$175
$100
$100
$100

Total
$49,160.00
$126,300.00
$102,740.00
$104,525.00
$17,320.00
$7,822.50
$13,540.00
$80.00
$70.00

Mr. Ogawa’s block-billed time entries were on 12/21/2014 and 6/29/2015. See Ogawa Decl.,
Ex. 8 (Invoices).
30
This line reflects Ms. Higa’s time entries while employed at Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew
before joining Bronster Fujichaku Robbins in March 2015.
34

Total Fees Awarded
Less $6,687.69 Credit31
TAX (4.712%)
TOTAL

$421,557.50
$414,869.81
$19,548.67
$434,418.48

The Court is satisfied that Liberty Mutual is entitled to $434,418.48 in
attorneys’ fees and declines to adjust this lodestar amount.
G.

Additional Expenses: Expert Fees, Travel and Litigation Costs

Liberty Mutual requests additional fees, costs and expenses related to
processing Payment Bond claims, travel costs for a client representative, and
miscellaneous litigation-related expenses. It is clear from the express terms of the
Stipulation and applicable GAI that Liberty Mutual is entitled to these fees and
costs, including: “outside consulting fees,” “costs,” “court costs,” “fees, costs and
expenses,” and “any and all such losses, fees, costs and expenses which the Surety
may sustain or incur . . . in enforcing any of the covenants or conditions of this
Agreement or Other Agreements.” GAI at 1.
1.

Consulting Fees

Liberty Mutual requests $16,631.50 for consulting fees paid to Global
Construction Services, Inc. (“GCS”), which it retained to review claims by

31

The Magistrate Judge twice ordered the Nan Defendants and Sumo-Nan to pay Liberty Mutual’s
attorneys’ fees during the course of this litigation in the following amounts: $6,437.69 (Dkt. No.
167); and $250.00 (Dkt. No. 179); totaling $6,687.69. The Court credits this amount against the
total lodestar figure.
35

subcontractors and vendors against the Payment Bond. See Bartholdt Decl. ¶ 5, Ex.
9 (GCS Invoices). Having reviewed the requested costs and supporting
documentation, the Court finds that the GCS fees are reasonable, and Liberty Mutual
is entitled to recover $16,631.50 for consulting fees paid to GCS.
2.

Travel Costs

Liberty Mutual requests $1,293.51 in travel expenses for Sam Barker, its
client representative, to attend a court-ordered settlement conference with the
Magistrate Judge. See Bartholdt Decl. ¶ 6. Having reviewed the requested costs,
and in the absence of a specific objection from Defendants, the Court finds that
Liberty Mutual’s request for travel expenses is reasonable. As such, Liberty
Mutual is entitled to recover $1,293.51 in travel expenses.
3.

Litigation Costs Included On Law Firm Invoices

Liberty Mutual also seeks reimbursement for additional litigation costs
incurred and charged by their law firms. The request is not broken down as a
separate request for taxable costs—rather, it is built into the total amount of fees
sought by the individual firms. That is, the invoices submitted in support of Liberty
Mutual’s Motion include charges for costs in addition to the hourly professional

36

services performed by attorneys and paralegals.32 The additional costs include
witness fees, process server fees, deposition transcript fees, court filing fees, postage
and photocopying costs. The Court finds that Liberty Mutual is entitled to these
costs pursuant to the GAI. Accordingly, Liberty Mutual is entitled to recover
$7,251.58 in additional litigation-related costs.
III.

Interest On Fees and Costs
Last, Liberty Mutual seeks interest on the fees and costs awarded in the

previous section. It contends that it is entitled to such interest “from the date that it
paid the fees and costs.” Liberty Mutual Mem. In Supp. of Mot. at 13. The
Court’s prior analysis awarding interest on Liberty Mutual’s Payment Bond
payments applies equally to its request for interest on its fees and costs award.
Under the unambiguous language of the GAI, Liberty Mutual is entitled to “pre- and
post-judgment interest at the maximum rate permitted by law accruing from the date
of a breach of [the GAI].” GAI at 1. As discussed previously, interest accrues
from the date of breach—November 17, 2014—or the date that Liberty Mutual
actually paid the fees and costs, whichever is later.

32

The law firm invoices include a total of $839.60 in costs charged by Bronster Fujichaku Robbins
and $6,411.98 in costs charged by Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew.
37

Liberty Mutual’s request for interest owed on fees and costs pursuant to the
GAI is granted in part. The Court awards Liberty Mutual interest at the requested
rate of 10% on the following fees and costs, set forth in Table 4 below:
TABLE 4
Category
Attorneys’ Fees
Consulting Fees
Travel Expenses
Additional Litigation Costs
TOTAL

Amount
$434,418.48
$16,631.50
$1,293.51
$7,251.58
$459,595.07

Because Liberty Mutual is entitled to interest accruing from the later of (1) the
date it made payment on fees and costs or (2) November 17, 2014, up until the date
that Defendants satisfy their obligation to pay fees and costs as determined by this
Order, the Court cannot determine at the present time the total amount of interest due
and owing. Accordingly, upon satisfaction of Defendants’ remaining obligations,
Liberty Mutual shall calculate the amount of interest owed by Defendants pursuant
to the terms of this Order. Liberty Mutual may file a further request for relief as
needed to secure compliance with the terms of this Order.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court determines that Defendants’ remaining
obligations due to Liberty Mutual, pursuant to the GAI and the parties’ April 22,
2016 Stipulation, are as follows:
38

Category
Interest on Payment Bond claim payments
Attorneys’ Fees
Consulting Fees
Travel Expenses
Additional Litigation Costs
TOTAL

Amount
$243,817.22
$434,418.48
$16,631.50
$1,293.51
$7,251.58
$703,412.29

Upon satisfaction of Defendants’ remaining obligations, Liberty Mutual shall
calculate the amount of additional interest owed on its fees and costs pursuant to the
terms of this Order, and that additional obligation shall be paid forthwith. The
Court reserves ruling on the exact amount of interest owed on Liberty Mutual’s fees
and costs, as well as enforcement of the terms of this Order, if either becomes
necessary.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: March 1, 2017 at Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. v. Sumo-Nan LLC et al., CV NO 14-00520 DKW-KSC; ORDER
DETERMINING DEFENDANTS’ REMAINING OBLIGATIONS TO LIBERTY
MUTUAL

39