Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Hill

Filing 74

ORDER Approving In Part Fees and Expenses. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden on 4/4/17. Associated Cases: 4:15-cv-00166-DMB-JMV, 4:15-cv-00184-DMB-JMV (ncb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
GREENVILLE DIVISION
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
V.

PLAINTIFF
CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:15CV-166-DMB-JMV

PURVIS WILLIAM HILL, JR.

DEFENDANT

Consolidated With

PURVIS WILLIAM HILL, JR.
V.

PLAINTIFF
CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:15-CV-184-DMB-JMV

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY AND JOHN DOES 1-3

DEFENDANTS

ORDER APPROVING IN PART FEES AND EXPENSES

By Order dated March 17, 2017, this Court granted in part identical motions for entry of
an order to show cause [#69 in 4:15cv166 & #62 in No. 4:15cv184] filed by Massachusetts
Mutual Life Insurance Company (“Mass Mutual”) in these consolidated cases. That Order
awarded to Mass Mutual “all reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses incurred by counsel for
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. in preparing the instant motion and appearing at the
hearing.” Counsel for Mass Mutual was required to file an itemization of reasonable fees and
expenses incurred, along with an attorney’s supporting affidavit. Attorney Candace Williamson
was allowed 7 days after the filing of counsel’s affidavit(s) to file any objection she had to the
reasonableness of the amount of the fees and expenses. It has now been more than 7 days since
the filing of Mass Mutual’s counsel’s fee affidavits, and no objection thereto has been filed by
Attorney Williamson. Accordingly, the Court is ready to rule.

Though Ms. Williamson has filed no objection to counsel’s submissions, the Court finds
the total amount of fees and expenses submitted, $12,913.46, will not be awarded. Rather, a
more reasonable award of fees and expenses in the amount of $3,000.00 is appropriate. While
the Court is aware that far greater fees and expenses may be collected by counsel, the subject the
motions concerned was not complex, and the motions were granted only in part.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED:
That Attorney Candace Williamson shall pay to Defendant Mass Mutual the total amount
of $3,000.00 by May 19, 2017, for the benefit of its counsel.
This 4th day of April, 2017.

/s/ Jane M. Virden
U. S. Magistrate Judge

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