Jernigan et al v. Protas, Spivok & Collins, LLC

Filing 30

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Ellen L. Hollander on 9/20/2017. (krs, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
AMY JERNIGAN, et al.
Plaintiffs,
v.

Civil Action No. ELH-16-03058

PROTAS, SPIVOK & COLLINS,
LLC.,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On September 15, 2017, the Court conducted a Class Action Fairness Hearing with
respect to the proposed “Class Action Settlement Agreement And Release” (“Settlement
Agreement”), docketed at ECF 18-1. By Final Order and Judgment of September 15, 2017
(ECF 29), this Court granted final approval of the Settlement Agreement, and dismissed all
claims against defendant Protas, Spivok & Collins, LLC (“PSC”), for the reasons stated in open
court. In the Order, the Court also approved three incentive awards of $4,000 each (totaling
$12,000); designated the class of approximately 331 persons; appointed Class Counsel; awarded
court costs of $884.23; approved pro rata payments from the Common Fund to the Class
Members; and approved a cy pres award in accordance with the terms and designations in the
Settlement Agreement.
Class Counsel had also moved for attorneys‟ fees (ECF 26), supported by a memorandum
(id.) and a supplement (ECF 27), which includes time records for counsel (collectively,
“Motion”). Declarations of Class Counsel were also submitted. See ECF 18-3, Declaration of
Scott Borison, Esquire and Declaration of Phillip Robinson, Esquire; ECF 25-2, Declaration of
Phillip Robinson, Esquire. The matter of counsel fees was fully addressed at the hearing. But,

for the reasons stated in open court, the Court held the matter of attorneys‟ fees under
advisement.
No additional hearing is needed as to the Motion. See Local Rule 105.6. For the reasons
stated below, I shall grant the Motion and award the requested counsel fees of $42,000.
I.

Background

The background of this case is set forth in the parties‟ submissions and was also set forth
at the hearing held on September 15, 2017. I need not restate it here. I note, however, that the
case is rooted in the filing of two class action suits in July 2016, both initiated in the Circuit
Court for Anne Arundel County. One was filed by Amy Jernigan and William Bonilla (“Named
Plaintiffs”) and the other by Leo Farber (“Class Member”). The Jernigan/Bonilla case was
removed to this Court; the Farber case was not removed. Both cases arise under the Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692, et seq. (“FDCPA”) and include state law claims.
Protas, Spivok & Collins, LLC, a law firm in Bethesda, Maryland, is the sole defendant.
In particular, plaintiffs seek statutory damages arising from PSC‟s efforts on behalf of
LVNV Funding, LLC (“LVNV”) to collect debts from the Named Plaintiffs, the Class Member,
and a class of similarly situated persons, all of whom are consumers. The debt collection activity
was allegedly based on void and unenforceable judgments obtained by LVNV while it was not a
licensed collection agency in Maryland. ECF 2, ¶ 2; ECF 25-1 at 3. Defendant denied liability.
In the context of this case, the FDCPA caps the recovery of statutory damages at “the
lesser of $500,000 or 1 per centum of the net worth of the debt collector.” 15 U.S.C.
§ 1692k(a)(2)(B). PSC‟s net worth was represented to be less than $1,000,000. ECF 25-1 at 3.

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Based on the 1% FDCPA cap, the total class recovery, if the case were to go to trial, would be no
more than $10,000.1
Notably, Class Counsel obtained a settlement fund of $105,000, which covers, inter alia,
three incentive payments, counsel fees, and pro rata payments to class members. ECF 26 at 2.
Of relevance here, Class Counsel seeks an award of attorneys‟ fees equal to 40% of the Common
Fund, i.e., $42,000. Id. at 8.
II.

Relevant Legal Principles

The FDCA allows for the recovery of a “reasonable attorney‟s fee.” See 15 U.S.C.
§ 1692k(a)(3). Section 1692k(a)(3) states:
[A]ny debt collector who fails to comply with any provision of this
subchapter with respect to any person is liable to such person in an
amount equal to the sum of . . . (3) in the case of any successful
action to enforce the foregoing liability, the costs of the action,
together with a reasonable attorney‟s fee as determined by the
court. . . .
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(h) is also pertinent. It governs attorneys‟ fees in class actions and
provides that a court may award “reasonable attorneys‟ fees . . . that are authorized by law or by
the parties‟ agreement.” Class Counsel represented at the hearing that their three original clients
had agreed to a contingency fee of 40%.
Notably, a court bears the responsibility to determine that fees are reasonable, even in the
absence of any objections. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(h), 1993 Advisory Committee notes. As the
Advisory Committee notes indicate, “[t]he agreement by a settling party not to oppose a fee
application up to a certain amount . . . is worthy of consideration, but the court remains
responsible to determine a reasonable fee.” Id.
1

In an individual suit, the range of statutory damages under the FDCPA is $100 to

$1,000.
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In a class action, “[t]here are two methods commonly used for calculating an attorney's
fee award: the lodestar method and the „percentage of recovery‟ method.” Decohen v. Abbasi,
LLC, 299 F.R.D. 469, 481 (D. Md. 2014) (footnote omitted); see also Advisory Committee
Notes to Rule 23(h) (indicating that a court may evaluate whether a fee award in a “common
fund” case is reasonable based on either a percentage-of-recovery method or the lodestar
method). “With either method, the goal is to make sure that counsel is fairly compensated.”
Singleton v. Domino’s Pizza, LLC, 976 F. Supp. 2d 665, 681 (D. Md. 2013).
The United States Supreme Court has said that the “common-fund doctrine” entitles “„a
litigant or a lawyer who recovers a common fund for the benefit of persons other than himself or
his client . . . to a reasonable attorney‟s fee from the fund as a whole.‟” U.S. Airways, Inc. v.
McCutchen, ____ U.S. ____, 133 S. Ct. 1537, 1545 (2013) (quoting Boeing Co. v. Van Gemert,
444 U.S. 472, 478 (1980) (emphasis added)). Conversely, “the percentage of recovery method”
is an “inappropriate” method for determining attorneys‟ fees where “the attorneys‟ fees are not
being deducted from the Plaintiffs‟ recovery.” Cerrato v. All. Material Handling, Inc., WDQ-132774, 2014 WL 7190687, at *4 (D. Md. Dec. 16, 2014); see also Fangman v. Genuine Title,
LLC, RDB-14-081, ECF 411 at 9 (filed Nov. 18, 2016); Durm v. American Honda Finance
Corp., WDQ-13-223, 2015 WL 6756040 at *6 (D. Md. Nov. 4, 2015).
Typically, in a common fund case, courts favor the percentage-of-recovery method.
Decohen, 299 F.R.D. at 481. See, e.g., In re Diet Drugs, 582 F.3d 524 (3d Cir. 2009) (endorsing
percentage-of-recovery method to calculate attorney fee award out of settlement fund in
nationwide products liability class action); Durm, 2015 WL 6756040, at *6; see also The Manual
for Complex Litigation § 14.231 (4th ed. 2011) (reporting that “the vast majority of courts of
appeals now permit or direct district courts to use the percentage method in common-fund

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cases”). In particular, the “percentage of the recovery method involves an award based on a
percentage of the class recovery, set by the weighing of a number of factors by the court.”
Whitaker v. Navy Fed. Credit Union, RDB-09-2288, 2010 WL 3928616, at *4 (D. Md. Oct. 4,
2010). It “is designed to allow courts to award fees from the fund „in a manner that rewards
counsel for success‟ . . . .” In re Cendant Corp. PRIDES Litigation, 243 F.3d 722, 732 (3rd Cir.
2001).
Of note, “the percentage method is more efficient and less burdensome than the
traditional lodestar method, and offers a more reasonable measure of compensation for common
fund cases.‟” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 681 (citation omitted). “An attractive aspect of the
„percentage of recovery‟ method is its results-driven nature which „ties the attorneys‟ award to
the overall result achieved rather than the hours expended.” Id. (citing Jones v. Dominion Res.
Servs., 601 F. Supp. 2d 756, 759 (S.D. W. Va. 2009)).
However, “because of the percentage of recovery method‟s limitations, courts often
employ a lodestar multiplier cross-check to ensue the reasonableness of the award.” Decohen,
299 F.R.D. at 481. See, e.g., Goldberger v. Integrated Res., Inc., 209 F.3d 43, 50 (2d Cir. 2000)
(“encourag[ing] the practice of requiring documentation of hours as a „cross check‟ on the
reasonableness of the requested percentage”); Domonoske v. Bank of Am., N.A., 790 F. Supp. 2d
466, 475 (W. D. Va. 2011). Under the lodestar method, the appropriate fee award is determined
by multiplying the reasonable hourly rate by the number of hours reasonably expended. McAfee
v. Boczar, 738 F.3d 81, 88 (4th Cir. 2013), as amended (Jan. 23, 2014); Grissom v. The Mills
Corp., 549 F.3d 313, 320 (4th Cir. 2008).
As the Third Circuit has explained, “„[t]he lodestar method is more commonly applied in
statutory fee-shifting cases, and is designed to reward counsel for undertaking socially beneficial

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litigation in cases where the expected relief has a small enough monetary value that a
percentage-of-recovery method would provide inadequate compensation.‟” In re Cendant Corp.,
243 F.3d at 732 (citation omitted). There is “a strong presumption that the lodestar number
represents a reasonable attorney's fee.” McAfee, 738 F.3d at 88-89) (internal quotation marks
omitted).
In Fangman, RDB-14-081, Judge Bennett reiterated, ECF 411 at 21-22: “„The purpose
of a lodestar cross-check is to determine whether a proposed fee award is excessive relative to
the hours reportedly worked by counsel, or whether the fee is within some reasonable multiplier
of the lodestar.‟” (quoting Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d 688) (citing In re Rite Aid Corp. Sec. Litig.,
396 F.3d 294, 306 (3rd Cir. 2005)). Notably, “„where the lodestar fee is used as a mere crosscheck to the percentage method of determining reasonable attorneys‟ fees, the hours documented
by counsel need not be exhaustively scrutinized by the district court.‟” Singleton, 976 F. Supp.
2d at 688 (quoting In re Royal Ahold N.V. Sec. & ERISA Litig., 461 F. Supp. 2d 383, 385 (D.
Md. 2006)). With respect to the appropriate multiplier, “[c]ourts have generally held that lodestar
multipliers falling between 2 and 4.5 demonstrate a reasonable attorneys‟ fee.” Singleton, 976 F.
Supp. 2d at 689 (citing Goldenberg v. Marriott PLP Corp., 33 F. Supp. 2d 434, 439 (D. Md.
1998)).
I shall use the “percentage of recovery” method to determine the award of attorneys‟ fees.
However, I will cross-check the “percentage of recovery” analysis with a lodestar analysis.
Notably, “using the percentage of fund method and supplementing it with the lodestar crosscheck . . . take[s] advantage of the benefits of both methods.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 681
(quoting In re The Mills Corp. Securities Litig., 265 F.R.D. 246, 261 (E.D. Va. 2009)).

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III. Discussion
A. “Percentage of Recovery”
In applying the “percentage of recovery” method, courts have considered the following
seven factors, id.:
(1) the results obtained for the class; (2) the quality, skill, and efficiency of the
attorneys involved; (3) the risk of nonpayment; (4) objections by members of
the class to the settlement terms and/or fees requested by counsel; (5) awards
in similar cases; (6) the complexity and duration of the case; and (7) public
policy.
Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 682; see also In re Cendant Corp., 243 F. 3d at 733; The Kay
Company v. Equitable Production Co., 749 F. Supp. 2d 455, 464 (S.D. W. Va. 2010); In re The
Mills, 265 F.R.D. at 260-61. However, “fee award reasonableness factors „need not be applied in
a formulaic way‟ because each case is different, „and in certain cases, one factor may outweigh
the rest.‟ ” In re AT & T Corp., 455 F.3d 160, 166 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting In re Rite Aid Corp.
Sec. Litig., 396 F.3d at 301).
a. Results Obtained
“[T]he most critical factor in calculating a reasonable fee award is the degree of success
obtained.” McKnight v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 14 F. App‟x. 147, 149 (4th Cir. 2001). In this
case, Class Counsel secured an excellent financial recovery when compared to the 1% FDCPA
cap that would apply had the case proceeded to a trial. And, even in an individual action, the
projected pro rata recovery exceeds the potential minimal award. As Judge Chasanow observed
in Singleton, “[t]he fact that no objections have been filed further suggests that the result
achieved is a desirable one.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 683.

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b. Quality, Skill, and Efficiency of the Attorneys Involved
Class Counsel are experienced litigators in the field of consumer litigation.

They

obtained a prompt and substantial settlement for the Class, totaling $105,000.
c. Risk of Nonpayment
“„In determining the reasonableness of an attorneys‟ fee award, courts consider the
relative risk involved in litigating the specific matter compared to the general risks incurred by
attorneys taking on class actions on a contingency basis.‟ ” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 683
(quoting Jones, 601 F. Supp. 2d at 762). “The risk undertaken by class counsel is evaluated by,
among other things, . . . the ease of proving claims and damages, and, if the case resulted in
settlement, the relative speed at which the case was settled.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 683.
Here, the case was removed to this Court on September 2, 2016. ECF 1. On September
7, 2016, the parties jointly requested a settlement conference. ECF 9. Magistrate Judge Susan
Gauvey conducted a settlement conference on November 1, 2016. See Docket. And, on January
12, 2017, the parties submitted a joint motion to approve the settlement agreement. ECF 18. In
the interim, there was little in the way of active litigation. Settlement was promptly achieved.
Class Counsel has observed that “early settlement has reduced the burden on the judiciary
by excessive motions practice and avoiding trial and a potential appeal . . . .” ECF 26 at 4.
Moreover, they assert, id.: “Early settlement should not reduce the fees.” And, they point to the
work that was necessitated by the settlement itself. Id.
d. Objections
The Class members were notified of the proposed Settlement Agreement, their expected
recovery, and Class Counsels‟s request for attorneys‟ fees. Paragraph 17 of the Notice (ECF 184) concerned proposed counsel fees. It said:

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“17. How will the lawyers be paid:
Class Counsel will be paid a percentage of the Common Fund, determined by the Court.”
To be sure, Class Counsel did not specify the percentage fee of 40% of the Common
Fund, which they now seek. However, the lack of disclosure of the exact percentage does not
foreclose inquiry by a Class member. “The lack of objections tends to show that at least from
the class members‟ perspective, the requested fee is reasonable for the services provided and the
benefits achieved by class counsel.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 684 (D. Md. 2013).
e. Awards in Similar Cases
In Singleton, Judge Chasanow carefully considered percentage awards in a variety of
contexts. See 976 F.Supp. 2d at 684-86. Of relevance here, she said: “Fees awarded under „the
percentage-of-recovery‟ method in settlements under $100 million have ranged from 15% to
40%.” Id. (citing Stoner v. CBA Information Services, 352 F. Supp. 2d 549, 553 (E.D. Pa. 2005)).
According to § 14.121 of the Manual for Complex Litigation, attorneys‟ fees awarded under the
percentage of recovery methods generally range between 25% and 30% of the fund. Singleton,
976 F. Supp. 2d at 684.
On the other hand, Class Counsel point to several of their cases in this District in which
fee awards were approved for 40% of the settlement fund. See ECF 26 at 5 (citing cases). See,
e.g., CCB-11-250, ECF 21 (Motion); ECF 24 (Order).
f. The Complexity and Duration of the Litigation
“„In evaluating the complexity and duration of the litigation, courts consider not only the
time between filing the complaint and reaching settlement, but also the amount of motions
practice prior to settlement, and the amount and nature of discovery.‟” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d
at 686 (quoting Jones, 601 F. Supp. 2d at 761).

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The entries on the docket here reflect that the parties engaged in settlement discussions
almost immediately after the removal of the case, without engaging in motion practice. But,
counsel may have engaged in informal discovery. In any event, the litigation was not protracted.
The complexity actually centered on issues concerning LVNV‟s conduct and whether its
judgments were valid. However, those issues were not litigated in this case. Rather, they were
litigated by plaintiffs‟ counsel in other proceedings in State court. See Finch v. LVNV Funding,
LLC, 212 Md. App. 748, 71 A.3d 193 (2013); see also LVNV Funding, LLC v. Finch, 2017 WL
4074573 (Maryland Court of Special Appeals Sept. 14, 2017).
In my view, as a result of the resolution of the Finch case, this case was not complex; the
validity of LVNV‟s judgments was resolved in State court.
g. Public Policy
“„The most frequent complaint surrounding class action fees is that they are artificially
high, with the result (among others) that plaintiffs‟ lawyers receive too much of the funds set
aside to compensate victims.‟” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 687 (quoting Report on Contingent
Fees in Class Action Litigation, 25 Rev. Litig. 459, 466 (2006)). As Judge Chasanow said in
Singleton, “in assessing the reasonableness of the requested attorneys‟ fees, the court must strike
the appropriate balance between promoting the important public policy that attorneys continue
litigating class action cases that „vindicate rights that might otherwise go unprotected,‟ and
perpetuating the public perception that „class action plaintiffs‟ lawyers are overcompensated for
the work that they do.‟ ” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 687 (quoting Third Circuit Task Force
Report, 208 F.R.D. 340, 342, 344 (Jan. 15, 2002)). Notably, “[t]his concern is not a trivial one
and requires attentiveness . . . in awarding fees.” In re the Mills Corp., 265 F.R.D. at 263; see In

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re Nortel Networks Corp. Sec. Litig., 539 F.3d 129, 132 (2nd Cir. 2008); Singleton, 976 F. Supp.
2d at 687.
The lack of an objection to the requested attorneys‟ fees does not preclude a reduction of
the fee request. In Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d 665, Judge Chasanow reduced the fee award from
30% to 25% of the common fund, despite the absence of objections, concluding that it “would be
more reasonable in light of . . . competing public policy concerns.” Id. at 687. In her view, the
“nominal reduction” from 30% to 25% recognized the risks borne by class counsel while also
promoting the policy against excessive legal fees. Id. at 688. See also, e.g., Carroll v. Wolpoff
& Abramson, 53 F.3d 626, 630 (4th Cir. 1995) (finding that trial judge did not abuse his
discretion in the award of a reduced attorney‟s fee, below the lodestar amount, in a FDCPA
case).

B. Lodestar Cross-Check
A lodestar cross-check suggests that 40% is reasonable.
As indicated, under the “lodestar” method, a district court identifies a reasonable fee
award by multiplying the reasonable hours expended by a reasonable hourly rate. Grissom, 549
F.3d at 320. The court may then adjust that award by employing a “multiplier” that is “derived
from a number of factors, including the benefit obtained for the settlement class, the complexity
of the case, and the quality of the representation.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 689; see
Whitaker, 2010 WL 3928616 at *4.
“The purpose of a lodestar cross-check is to determine whether a proposed fee award is
excessive relative to the hours reportedly worked by counsel, or whether the fee is within some
reasonable multiplier of the lodestar.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 688 (citing In re Rite Aid
Corp. Sec. Litig., 396 F.3d at 306). As noted earlier, “„where the lodestar fee is used as a mere

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cross-check to the percentage method of determining reasonable attorneys‟ fees, the hours
documented by counsel need not be exhaustively scrutinized by the district court.‟ ” Singleton,
976 F. Supp. 2d at 688 (quoting In re Royal Ahold N.V. Sec. & ERISA Litig., 461 F. Supp. 2d at
385). “Courts have generally held that lodestar multipliers falling between 2 and 4.5 demonstrate
a reasonable attorneys‟ fee.” Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d at 689 (concluding that a high multiplier
is unreasonable in light of “the lesser complexity” of the case) (citing Goldenberg, 33 F. Supp.
2d at 439).
Courts sometimes consider in a cross check the factors outlined in the Fifth Circuit‟s
decision in Johnson v. Georgia Highway Express, Inc., 488 F.2d 714, 717-19 (5th Cir. 1974).
Johnson was adopted by the Fourth Circuit in Barber v. Kimbrell’s Inc., 577 F.2d 216, 226 (4th
Cir. 1978) (adopting the Johnson factors and “hold[ing] that any award must be accompanied by
detailed findings of fact with regard to the factors considered”). The Johnson factors are as
follows: (1) the time and labor expended; 2) the novelty and difficulty of the questions raised; (3)
the skill required to properly perform the legal services rendered; (4) the attorney‟s opportunity
costs in pressing the instant litigation; (5) the customary fee for like work; (6) the attorney‟s
expectations at the outset of the litigation; (7) the time limitations imposed by the client or
circumstances; (8) the amount in controversy and the results obtained; (9) the experience,
reputation and ability of the attorney; (10) the undesirability of the case within the legal
community in which the suit arose; (11) the nature and length of the professional relationship
between attorney and client; and (12) attorneys‟ fees awards in similar cases. McAfee, 738 F.3d
at 88 n.5.
Class Counsel represent that they proceeded in this matter with their named clients on a
contingency fee basis. ECF 26 at 4. At the Court‟s request, however, they provided time

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records, including information as to their hourly rates. ECF 27. Because of the contingency fee
arrangement with plaintiffs, counsel proceeded in this case without any guarantee that they
would receive any payment for their time and effort. Id. Class Counsel‟s work in this case was
entirely contingent on its success; had plaintiff‟s claims failed, counsel would have received
nothing. ECF 66-2 at 6-7. That is a considerable risk. It is also worth noting that, at the Class
Action Fairness hearing, defense counsel praised the work of Class Counsel.
Class Counsel point out that “[t]his Court has previously approved attorney fee awards on
a percentage of the settlement fund” and assert that “[t]he percentage applied in nearly all cases
has been 40%.” See ECF 26 at 5. For example, in Castillo v. Nagle & Zaller, P.C., WDQ 1202338, Judge Quarles approved a 40% contingency fee settlement.

ECF 18, ¶ 12. However,

there are many cases in which a fee equal to 40% is not awarded. See, e.g., Fangman, RDB-14081, ECF 411 (RESPA case); Singleton, 976 F. Supp. 2d 665) (FCRA case).
In support of the percentage fee award, counsel cites In re Abrams & Abrams, P.A., 605
F.3d 238 (4th Cir. 2010), which was not a class action case. In that personal injury case, with an
$18 million settlement, the Fourth Circuit vacated the district court‟s decision to reduce
counsel‟s fee award from the 33% contained in a contingency fee agreement to 3%. Id. at 240,
243. The Fourth Circuit noted that “courts evaluate attorney‟s fees under a reasonableness
standard.” Id. at 243. Moreover, “district courts have inherent power and an obligation to limit
attorneys‟ fees to a reasonable amount.” Id. But, the Court also said, id. at 245: “The chief error
in the district court‟s analysis was its failure to recognize the significance of the contingency fee
in this case.” The Court observed “that contingency fee arrangements transfer a significant
portion for the risk of loss to the attorneys taking a case. Access to the courts would be difficult
to achieve without compensating attorneys for that risk.” Id. at 246.

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Class Counsel‟s time records indicate that both Robinson and Borison billed at $450 per
hour and their paralegal, Lauren Stone, billed at $110 per hour. ECF 27-1 at 5. Stone worked a
total of 20.2 hours, valued at $2,222, on matters such as reviewing and editing the complaint,
drafting intake sheets, preparing and serving filings, drafting settlement papers, and drafting the
final approval motions. ECF 27-2 at 2. Robinson worked 36.4 hours, valued at $16,380, mostly
in increments of 6 to 18 minutes, communicating with the clients, corresponding with opposing
counsel, making “phone call[s] with [unnamed] class member about settlement” (ECF 27-2 at 4),
and editing the final approval motion, among other tasks. See ECF 27-2 at 2-4). Borison worked
17.2 hours, valued at $7,740, mostly in increments of 30 minutes to an hour, and his work
included editing the complaint, drafting the settlement demands, corresponding with opposing
counsel, attending mediation, and communicating with the Court. See ECF 27-2 at 4-5.
Collectively, this amounts to 73.8 hours of work, valued at $26,342.
Under Appendix B to this Court‟s Local Rules, titled “Rules And Guidelines For
Determining Attorneys‟ Fees In Certain Cases,” attorneys admitted to the Bar for 15 to 19 years
may reasonably bill at the rate of $275-425 per hour. Lawyers admitted for 20 years or more
may reasonably bill at $300-475 per hour. Here, both lawyers are seasoned consumer litigation
lawyers. However, Mr. Robinson was not admitted to the Bar until 2000. Thus, his requested
hourly rate of $450 exceeds the top end of the hourly rate set forth in Appendix B. Because of
the use of an excessive hourly rate, the value of Robinson‟s time is overstated by about $900.
However, neither attorney billed for preparation for the Class Action Fairness Hearing or for
attending it. Those fees would readily offset the $900. Moreover, with a multiplier of 2, the
lodestar amount exceeds the fees requested here.

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IV.

Conclusion

For the reasons stated, I will approve the requested counsel fee award of 40% of the
Common Fund, i.e., $42,000.

This case, monetarily, is a relatively small one. But, it is

undoubtedly important to the class members. Certainly, it can be difficult to obtain counsel for a
case in which the potential monetary recovery is relatively small. By agreeing to pursue this
case, Class Counsel has obtained relief for a class that, in all likelihood, would have had no
recourse in the absence of a class action. The Third Circuit recognized in In re Cendant Corp.,
243 F.3d at 732, in regard to a lodestar analysis, that in certain cases a lodestar fee award may be
necessary in a case with a small monetary value, in order to incentivize a lawyer to take the case.
That rationale is apt here.
An Order follows.

Date: September 20, 2017

/s/
Ellen L. Hollander
United States District Judge

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