Bobak Sausage Company v. A&J Seven Bridges Inc et al

Filing 92

WRITTEN Opinion entered by the Honorable Robert M. Dow, Jr on 5/31/2011: Following entry of judgment in its favor, on April 6, 2011, Defendants submitted a bill of costs 90 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d). On April 12, 2011, the C ourt took the bill of costs under advisement and gave Plaintiff until April 26, 2011, to object. Plaintiff has not filed an objection to the bill of costs. For the reasons stated below, the Court grants Defendants' request for costs 90 and awards Defendants $2,829.00 in costs. Mailed notice. [For further details see written opinion.] (kj, )

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Order Form (01/2005) United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois Name of Assigned Judge or Magistrate Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. CASE NUMBER 07 C 4718 CASE TITLE Sitting Judge if Other than Assigned Judge DATE 5/31/2011 Bobak Sausage Company vs. A.&J Seven Bridges, Inc., et al. DOCKET ENTRY TEXT Following entry of judgment in its favor, on April 6, 2011, Defendants submitted a bill of costs [90] pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d). On April 12, 2011, the Court took the bill of costs under advisement and gave Plaintiff until April 26, 2011, to object. Plaintiff has not filed an objection to the bill of costs. For the reasons stated below, the Court grants Defendants’ request for costs [90] and awards Defendants $2,829.00 in costs. O[ For further details see text below.] Docketing to mail notices. STATEMENT Rule 54(d)(1) provides that “costs – other than attorney’s fees – should be allowed to the prevailing party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1). The rule “provides a presumption that the losing party will pay costs but grants the court discretion to direct otherwise.” Rivera v. City of Chicago, 469 F.3d 631, 634 (7th Cir. 2006). However, the Seventh Circuit recognizes “only two situations in which the denial of costs might be warranted: the first involves misconduct of the party seeking costs, and the second involves a pragmatic exercise of discretion to deny or reduce a costs order if the losing party is indigent.” Mother & Father v. Cassidy, 338 F.3d 704, 708 (7th Cir. 2003); see also Rivera, 469 F.3d at 634-35. Taxing costs against the non-prevailing party requires two inquiries: (1) whether the cost is recoverable; and (2) whether the amount assessed is reasonable. See Majeske v. City of Chicago, 218 F.3d 816, 824 (7th Cir. 2000). The list of recoverable costs pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1920 includes (1) fees of the clerk and marshal, (2) fees for transcripts, (3) witness fees and expenses, (4) fees for copies of papers necessarily obtained for use in the case, (5) docket fees, and (6) compensation for courtappointed experts and interpreters. See Republic Tobacco Co. v. N. Atl. Trading Co., Inc., 481 F.3d 442, 447 (7th Cir. 2007). Plaintiff claims $2,829.00 in costs–$2,252.70 for fees of the court reporter for all or any part of the transcript necessarily obtained for use in the case and $576.80 for exemplification and copies of papers necessarily obtained for use in the case. A. Court Reporting and Transcription Fees – 28 U.S.C. § 1920(2) First, Defendants seek $2,252.70 in court reporting fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1920(2). The Court awards deposition charges if the deposition appears reasonably necessary in light of the facts known at the time of the deposition. See Little v. Mitsubishi Motors N. Am., Inc., 514 F.3d 699, 702 (7th Cir. 2008) (per curiam); Mother & Father, 338 F.3d at 708. Under Northern District of Illinois Local Rule 54.1(b), the costs of a transcript shall not exceed the regular copy rate established by the Judicial Conference of the United States. See N.D. Ill. L.R. 54.1(b). 07C4718 Bobak Sausage Company vs. A.&J Seven Bridges, Inc., et al. Page 1 of 2 STATEMENT The Court has reviewed the supporting materials (including invoices) attached to Defendants’ bill of costs and finds that the amounts requested are reasonable. Furthermore, the Court notes that Plaintiff has failed to object to the costs sought by Defendants. Therefore, the Court awards Defendants $2,252.70 in court reporting fees. C. Fees for Exemplification and Copies – 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4) Next, Defendants seek $576.80 in photocopying and exemplification costs pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4), which allows a judge to tax as costs “[f]ees for exemplification and copies of papers necessarily obtained for use in the case.” See Tchemkou v. Mukasey, 517 F.3d 506, 513 (7th Cir. 2008). Courts interpret this section to mean that photocopying charges for discovery and court copies are recoverable, but charges for copies made for attorney convenience are not. See Kulumani v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Ass’n, 224 F.3d 681, 685 (7th Cir. 2000); McIlveen v. Stone Container Corp., 910 F.2d 1581, 1584 (7th Cir. 1990). Under Section 1920(4), the prevailing party is “not required to submit a bill of costs containing a description so detailed as to make it impossible economically to recover photocopying costs.” Northbrook Excess & Surplus Ins. Co. v. Proctor & Gamble, 924 F.2d 633, 643 (7th Cir. 1991). Instead, the prevailing party need only provide the best breakdown obtainable from the records. See id. The Court has reviewed the supporting materials (including invoices) attached to Defendants’ bill of costs and finds that the amounts requested are reasonable. Furthermore, the Court notes that Plaintiff has failed to object to the costs sought by Defendants. Therefore, the Court awards Defendants $576.80 in photocopying and exemplification costs under Section 1920(4). 07C4718 Bobak Sausage Company vs. A.&J Seven Bridges, Inc., et al. Page 2 of 2

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