Assessment Technologies Institute, L.L.C. v. American Allied Healthcare LLC et al

Filing 38

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER sustaining 32 Motion for Attorney Fees. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants shall pay plaintiff $31,092.99 in attorney fees. Signed by Chief Judge Kathryn H. Vratil on 11/30/2012. (kao)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGIES
INSTITUTE, L.L.C.,

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Plaintiff,
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v.
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AMERICAN ALLIED HEALTHCARE LLC
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d/b/a AMERICAN ALLIED HEALTHCARE
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ASSOCIATION and QUINTIN D. MORGAN, )
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Defendants.
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__________________________________________)

CIVIL ACTION
No. 11-2307-KHV

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on plaintiff’s Motion For Attorney Fees, Expenses And
Costs (Doc. #32) filed May 29, 2012. On May 11, 2012, the Court granted plaintiff’s motion for
damages for infringing plaintiff’s registered copyrights and enjoined defendants from further
infringement. Memorandum And Order (Doc. #31). The Court also found defendants liable for
plaintiff’s reasonable attorney fees and ordered plaintiff to file a motion for attorney fees in
compliance with Rule 54(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and D. Kan. Rule 54.2. After
plaintiff filed its motion for attorney fees, the Court directed plaintiff to submit a copy of
contemporaneously prepared time records for work performed by its counsel, Stinson Morrison
Hecker LLP. On September 6, 2012, plaintiff submitted detailed time records and billing statements.
Plaintiff seeks $30,578.00 in attorney fees for the following.
Mark M. Iba, a partner with 18 years experience: 13.8 hours at $356 per hour for drafting
and editing pleadings and motions, reviewing and responding to defendants’ motions and
communicating with the client.
Timothy J. Feathers, an intellectual property attorney with 25 years of experience: 5 hours

at $380 per hour for litigation strategy and reviewing motions, briefs and responses.
James Cronin, an intellectual property associate with over 5 years of experience: 83.4 hours
at $262 per hour for drafting pleadings and motions, researching legal issues, investigating facts and
communicating with the client.
Suzanne C. Williams, a paralegal with at least 24 years of experience: 1.2 hours at $195 per
hour for research.
Lisa D. Parks, a paralegal with approximately 20 years of experience: 8.8 hours at $165 per
hour to prepare documents and managing the case file.
John E. Benson, a technology specialist with approximately 5 years of experience: 1.3 hours
at $160 per hour to download and preserve the content of defendants’ website.
The essential inquiry in setting attorney fees is reasonableness. Pelican Prod. Corp. v.
Marino, 893 F.2d 1143, 1148 (10th Cir. 1990) (citing Cooper v. Singer, 719 F.2d 1496, 1499 (10th
Cir. 1983)). The Court has reviewed plaintiff’s time records and the other supporting documentation
and finds that the rates and time billed are reasonable. Based on these submissions the Court finds
that plaintiff is entitled to $30,578.00 in attorney fees.
Plaintiff also seeks non-taxable expenses of $327.46 in computer legal research expense and
$187.53 for postage. See Sorbo v. UPS, 432 F.3d 1169, 1180 n.10 (10th Cir. 2005) (computer
research charges recoverable as part of attorney fees but not as costs); Cadena v. Pacesetter Corp.
No. 97-2659-KHV, 1999 WL 450891, at *7 (D. Kan. Apr. 27, 1999) (postage and Federal Express
charges recoverable as part of attorney fees). The Court finds that these expenses are reasonable.
Plaintiff is entitled to $514.99 in expenses as part of its attorney fees.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiff’s Motion For Attorney Fees, Expenses And
Costs (Doc. #32) filed May 29, 2012, be and hereby is SUSTAINED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants shall pay plaintiff $31,092.99 in attorney
fees.
Dated this 30th day of November, 2012 at Kansas City, Kansas.
s/Kathryn H. Vratil
Kathryn H. Vratil
United States District Judge