McCranie et al v. Larkins et al
Filing
183
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall tax costs of this matter in favor of defendants Clayton M. Agnew, Melissa Blyze, Kevin Boyer, CO1 Brawley, and Karen Madison in the amount of Eight Hundred Seventy-Six Dollars and Twenty Cents ($876.20). [Doc. 178] Signed by District Judge Charles A. Shaw on 11/15/12. (JWJ)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
WILLIE MCCRANIE-EL,
Plaintiff,
v.
EUGENE KENNETH JONES, et al.,
Defendants.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
No. 4:10-CV-312 CAS
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on defendants Clayton M. Agnew, Melissa Blyze, Kevin
Boyer, CO1 Brawley, and Karen Madison’s bill of costs. Defendants filed a bill of costs seeking a
total of $876.20 in costs. Plaintiff did not file an opposition to the request.
It is presumed that a prevailing party is entitled to costs. See Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
54(d); Bathke v. Casey’s General Stores, Inc., 64 F.3d 340, 347 (8th Cir. 1995). “When an expense
is taxable as a cost, . . . there is a strong presumption that a prevailing party shall recover it in full
measure.” Concord Boat Corp. v. Brunswick Corp., 309 F.3d 494, 498 (8th Cir. 2002) (internal
quotation omitted). “The losing party bears the burden of making the showing that an award is
inequitable under the circumstances.” Id. (internal citation and quotation omitted). Allowable costs,
however, are generally limited to the categories set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1920. Expenses not on the
statutory list must be borne by the party incurring them. Crawford Fitting Co. v. J.T. Gibbons, Inc.,
482 U.S. 437, 442-43 (1987). Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d) and 28 U.S.C.
§ 1920, the Court must carefully scrutinize the claimed costs and the support offered for them.
Farmer v. Arabian Am. Oil Co., 379 U.S. 227, 232-33, 235 (1964); Alexander v. National Farmers
Org., 696 F.2d 1210, 1212 (8th Cir. 1982); Davis v. Parratt, 608 F.2d 717, 718 (8th Cir. 1979).
Here, defendants have requested two categories of costs: deposition costs, including transcripts and
court reporter fees; and fees for witnesses.
Defendant seeks a total of $663.00 for transcripts costs and court reporter attendance fees
incurred in taking plaintiff’s deposition. The Court has broad discretion to tax costs of depositions
that are reasonably necessary to the case and that were not taken purely for investigative purposes.
Zotos v. Lindbergh Sch. Dist., 121 F.3d 356, 363 (8th Cir. 1997); Slagenweit v. Slagenweit, 63 F.3d
719, 720 (8th Cir. 1995); Koppinger v. Cullen-Schiltz & Assocs., 513 F.2d 901, 911 (8th Cir. 1975).
The Court finds that taking plaintiff’s deposition was reasonably necessary for the defense of this
case. Defendants are entitled to $663.00 for the transcripts costs and court reporter attendance fees
they incurred in taking plaintiff’s deposition.
Defendant also seeks the sum of $213.20 in connection with witness fees and mileage for two
witnesses – Susan Boyer and Jesse Maxey. Both of these witnesses were subpoenaed to testify at
trial. The Court finds that defendants are entitled to taxation of the cost of the two witness fees and
mileage in the amount of $213.20.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall tax costs of this matter in favor
of defendants Clayton M. Agnew, Melissa Blyze, Kevin Boyer, CO1 Brawley, and Karen Madison
in the amount of Eight Hundred Seventy-Six Dollars and Twenty Cents ($876.20). [Doc. 178]
__________________________________
CHARLES A. SHAW
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 15th day of November, 2012.
2
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?