JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Meritage Homes Corp. et al
Filing
127
ORDER Granting in Part and Denying in Part 123 Motion for Attorney Fees. Plaintiff Insolvency Services Group, Inc. shall submit a proposed form of order consistent with this Court's rulings as detailed in this Order on or before 2/27/2014. Signed by Judge Philip M. Pro on 1/28/2014. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - SLD)
1
2
3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
4
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
***
)
INSOLVENCY SERVICES GROUP,
)
INC.,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION )
and MERITAGE HOMES OF NEVADA, )
INC.,
)
)
Defendants.
)
___________________________________ )
2:11-CV-01364-PMP-RJJ
ORDER
Presently before the Court is Plaintiff Insolvency Services Group, Inc.’s (“ISG”)
13
14
Motion for Attorneys’ Fees (Doc. #123), filed on July 22, 2013. Defendants Meritage
15
Homes Corporation and Meritage Homes of Nevada, Inc. (together, “Meritage”) filed an
16
Opposition (Doc. #124) on August 8, 2013. ISG filed a Reply (Doc. #125) on August 19,
17
2013.
18
I. BACKGROUND
19
The parties are familiar with the facts of this case, and the Court will not repeat
20
them here except where necessary. Plaintiff ISG, as sub-agent to Administrative Agent
21
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”), moves for attorney’s fees incurred in enforcing
22
the Repayment Guaranty. ISG argues the Repayment Guaranty contractually provides for
23
an award of attorney’s fees incurred in connection with enforcing the Guaranty, and ISG
24
requests a total of $1,134,042.08. ISG contends the hours expended were reasonable given
25
the complex, hard fought issues raised in the parties’ extensive litigation over the
26
Repayment Guaranty in this action, an action in Ohio that was transferred to this Court, and
1
in the South Edge bankruptcy proceeding. ISG also argues the level of success it achieved
2
weighs in favor of the reasonableness of the hours expended. Finally, ISG argues the
3
hourly rates of counsel are reasonable in light of the attorneys’ skill, experience, and
4
training for attorneys with nationwide practices, including in Los Angeles, New York, and
5
Nevada.
Meritage responds that ISG improperly seeks to recover attorney’s fees incurred
6
7
in the South Edge bankruptcy proceeding, which Meritage contends did not involve
8
enforcing the Repayment Guaranty. Meritage also argues ISG cannot recover fees incurred
9
in the Ohio action because ISG was not a prevailing party in that action where the parties
10
stipulated to dismiss the case. Meritage further contends it is not liable for fees incurred by
11
ISG because Meritage agreed under the Repayment Guaranty to pay fees incurred by
12
JPMorgan or its assignee, and ISG is not JPMorgan’s assignee. According to Meritage, it
13
did not agree in the Repayment Guaranty to pay attorney’s fees incurred by JPMorgan’s
14
sub-agent.
15
Alternatively Meritage argues that even if it must pay ISG’s fees, ISG improperly
16
seeks fees ISG incurred before ISG was substituted into this case, as well as fees incurred
17
by JPMorgan after ISG was substituted into the case and after JPMorgan’s counsel ceased
18
to be counsel of record in this case. Finally, Meritage contends the Court should make
19
various reductions to the fees because the requested rates are unreasonable for the District
20
of Nevada, counsel spent an unreasonable amount of time on some tasks, and counsel
21
block-billed.
22
ISG responds that it is entitled to fees arising from the South Edge bankruptcy
23
because part of that proceeding involved Meritage’s efforts to release itself from liability
24
under the Repayment Guaranty. ISG also argues it does not seek all fees incurred in the
25
bankruptcy proceeding. Instead it seeks only fifty percent of fees incurred by JPMorgan
26
related to Meritage’s appeal of the confirmation order, through which Meritage sought to
2
1
avoid liability under the Repayment Guaranty. ISG contends it is entitled to fees incurred in
2
the Ohio action because under the Repayment Guaranty’s terms, ISG need not be the
3
prevailing party to be entitled to fees. ISG contends it nevertheless was the prevailing party
4
because the parties stipulated that the Ohio action was substantially identical to this case
5
and was resolved by the Court’s summary judgment rulings in this case.
6
ISG further contends it is entitled to recover fees it incurred once it was
7
substituted as the plaintiff in this action because the Credit Agreement, to which Meritage
8
was a party, allowed for JPMorgan to act through a sub-agent. ISG also argues it is entitled
9
to fees it incurred once it was appointed sub-agent, even if that pre-dated the time it was
10
substituted as the plaintiff in this action. ISG asserts it also may collect fees incurred by
11
JPMorgan after the substitution because JPMorgan continued to own the right to repayment
12
under the Guaranty.
13
Finally, ISG contends the rates charged are reasonable because the relevant
14
community consists of large law firms handling complex litigation, the rates charged were
15
reasonable for Nevada, and the complexity of the case weighs in favor of an upward
16
adjustment. ISG also argues the hours expended were reasonable and the use of block
17
billing did not result in any overstatement of the hours reasonably expended.
18
II. DISCUSSION
19
A. South Edge Bankruptcy
20
ISG seeks to recover fifty percent of the fees it incurred in opposing Meritage’s
21
appeal of the bankruptcy court’s Confirmation Order in the South Edge bankruptcy
22
proceeding. A review of the record in the South Edge bankruptcy appeal demonstrates that
23
several issues in the appeal revolved around Meritage’s efforts to be relieved of liability
24
under the Repayment Guaranty, and JPMorgan’s related efforts to maintain its ability to
25
enforce the Repayment Guaranty against Meritage. (See In re South Edge, LLC, 2:11-CV-
26
01963-PMP-PAL, Appellant’s Opening Br. (Doc. #16), Appellee’s Opening Br. (Doc. #28),
3
1
Appellant’s Reply Br. (Doc. #34), Order (Doc. #40).) The right to recover attorney’s fees
2
under the Repayment Guaranty does not apply only in a direct action by JPMorgan to
3
enforce the Guaranty. Rather, the Repayment Guaranty states that JPMorgan is entitled to
4
recover fees incurred “in connection with the performance or enforcement of this
5
Guaranty.” (Mot. for Attorneys’ Fees, Decl. of Bruce Van Dalsem, Ex. C at 6.) The issues
6
litigated in the appeal of the Confirmation Order were in connection with the performance
7
or enforcement of the Repayment Guaranty. Additionally, the Court finds ISG’s request for
8
fifty percent of fees incurred as appropriate. At least half of the issues raised in the appeal
9
were related, directly or indirectly, to the performance or enforcement of the Guaranty. The
10
Court therefore rejects Meritage’s argument that ISG categorically cannot recover fifty
11
percent of the fees incurred in the South Edge bankruptcy appeal proceeding.
12
B. Ohio Action
13
The Ohio action likewise was litigated in connection with the performance or
14
enforcement of the Repayment Guaranty, as Meritage sought declaratory relief regarding
15
the parties’ rights and obligations under the Guaranty. (Meritage Homes Corp. v.
16
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 2:12-CV-01464-PMP-CWH, Compl. (Doc. #1-4) at 15-17.)
17
Assuming the Repayment Guaranty would require JPMorgan to be a prevailing party to
18
recover fees, JPMorgan prevailed in the Ohio action. Following this Court’s ruling on the
19
summary judgment motions in this action, the parties stipulated to dismiss the Ohio action
20
because the Ohio action was “substantially identical to” this case, and the Court had granted
21
summary judgment in JPMorgan’s favor in this case. (Meritage Homes Corp. v. JPMorgan
22
Chase Bank, N.A., 2:12-CV-01464-PMP-CWH, Order on Stip. (Doc. #17) at 1 ¶¶ 7-8, 2 at
23
¶ 1.) Fees incurred in the Ohio action therefore were incurred in connection with the
24
performance and enforcement of the Repayment Guaranty, and JPMorgan prevailed in that
25
action. The Court therefore rejects Meritage’s argument that ISG categorically cannot
26
recover fees incurred in the Ohio action.
4
1
C. ISG’s Fees
2
Meritage argues that under the Repayment Guaranty, it must pay only
3
JPMorgan’s fees, not any fees incurred by JPMorgan’s sub-agent. Section 15 of the
4
Repayment Guaranty provides that Meritage “shall reimburse the Administrative Agent on
5
demand for all costs, expenses and charges (including without limitation fees and charges
6
of external legal counsel for the Administrative Agent and costs allocated by its internal
7
legal department) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the performance
8
or enforcement of this Guaranty.” (Mot. for Attorneys’ Fees, Decl. of Bruce Van Dalsem,
9
Ex. C at 6.) The Repayment Guaranty defines “Administrative Agent” as “JPMorgan Chase
10
Bank, as Administrative Agent . . . for the benefit of the Lenders under the Credit
11
Agreement . . . .” (Id. at 1.) Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, JPMorgan was entitled to
12
“perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or
13
more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.” (Mot. for Attorneys’ Fees, Decl.
14
of Bruce Van Dalsem, Ex. F. at 88.) Because the Repayment Guaranty defines the
15
Administrative Agent to whom Meritage will owe fees as the Administrative Agent under
16
the Credit Agreement, and the Credit Agreement allows for the Administrative Agent to
17
perform its duties and exercise its rights through a sub-agent, Meritage agreed that it would
18
pay fees incurred by JPMorgan and by its sub-agent, if one were appointed. The Court
19
therefore rejects Meritage’s argument that ISG cannot recover fees it incurred, as opposed
20
to fees incurred only by JPMorgan.
21
D. ISG’s Fees Prior to Being Substituted as Plaintiff/JPMorgan’s Fees After
22
ISG Was Substituted as Plaintiff
23
The Repayment Guaranty’s terms do not require that JPMorgan or its sub-agent
24
be a party to a pending lawsuit to be entitled to fees. JPMorgan and its sub-agent may incur
25
fees in connection with the performance or enforcement of the Repayment Guaranty even if
26
they are not named parties in a lawsuit. Meritage does not argue or present evidence that
5
1
the requested fees were not incurred in connection with the enforcement of the Repayment
2
Guaranty. The Court therefore rejects Meritage’s argument that either ISG’s or JPMorgan’s
3
right to recover fees is dependent on when ISG was substituted for JPMorgan as the named
4
plaintiff.
5
E. Reasonable Rates and Hours
6
The Repayment Guaranty is governed by New York law. (Mot. for Attorneys’
7
Fees, Decl. of Bruce Van Dalsem, Ex. C at 6, § 18.) Under New York law, when a party is
8
entitled to attorney’s fees pursuant to a contract, “[a]n award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to
9
such a contractual provision may only be enforced to the extent that the amount is
10
reasonable and warranted for the services actually rendered.” SO/Bluestar, LLC v.
11
Canarsie Hotel Corp., 33 A.D.3d 986, 988 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006) (quotation omitted). An
12
award of reasonable attorney’s fees lies within the Court’s discretion based on factors such
13
as the time and labor required; the difficulty of the issues; counsel’s experience, ability, and
14
reputation; the amount in controversy; “the customary fee charged for such services”; and
15
“the results obtained.” In re Goliger, 58 A.D.3d 732, 732-33 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009)
16
(quotation omitted). Generally, an attorney’s fee award “must be based upon a showing of
17
the hours reasonably expended . . . and the prevailing hourly rate for similar legal work in
18
the community.” Gamache v. Steinhaus, 7 A.D.3d 525, 527 (N.Y. App. Div. 2004)
19
(quotation omitted). The party seeking a fee award must present sufficient evidence from
20
which the Court can “make an informed assessment of the reasonable value of the legal
21
services rendered.” SO/Bluestar, LLC, 33 A.D.3d at 988 (quotation omitted).
22
The parties dispute the reasonableness of the requested rates, in large part
23
because they dispute what constitutes the relevant community by which to measure those
24
rates. ISG contends that the relevant community consists of attorneys with nationwide
25
practices, including New York, Los Angeles, and Nevada. ISG requests hourly rates as
26
high as $950 per hour from attorneys from Morrison & Foerster; as high as $850 per hour
6
1
from attorneys at Stutman, Treister & Glatt PC; and as high as $850 per hour from attorneys
2
at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. Meritage, on the other hand, contends
3
Nevada is the relevant community, and the only evidence before the Court indicates Nevada
4
hourly rates range from $475 to $490.
5
The Court agrees with Meritage that Nevada is the relevant community.
6
JPMorgan brought this suit in Nevada, and most of the related litigation, including the
7
South Edge bankruptcy proceeding, likewise took place in Nevada. Under certain
8
circumstances, it may be reasonable to include within the relevant community the rates of
9
attorneys outside the geographic bounds of the community in which the Court sits. For
10
example “if local counsel was unavailable, either because they are unwilling or unable to
11
perform because they lack the degree of experience, expertise, or specialization required to
12
handle properly the case.” Barjon v. Dalton, 132 F.3d 496, 500 (9th Cir. 1997) (quotation
13
omitted). However, the Court is not persuaded that the requested rates for attorneys in Los
14
Angeles and New York, which vastly exceed the prevailing rates in Nevada, are reasonable.
15
ISG argues the out-of-state rates are reasonable because JPMorgan employed
16
these attorneys in prior disputes regarding South Edge, and the attorneys thus had extensive
17
knowledge of the South Edge disputes. JPMorgan’s choice to employ attorneys from New
18
York and Los Angeles in prior litigation does not mean it was reasonable to employ
19
attorneys in this case at far above prevailing Nevada market rates. The Court has before it
20
no evidence that JPMorgan and ISG could not have secured able Nevada counsel to
21
represent them in this case as well as in the other related disputes in Nevada. Rather, the
22
declaration of Robert M. Charles, Jr., a Nevada attorney with decades of experience in
23
commercial litigation and business bankruptcy matters, suggests JPMorgan and ISG could
24
have found counsel in Nevada with the requisite experience, expertise, and specialization
25
who charged the prevailing market rate. (Mot. for Attorneys’ Fees, Decl. of Robert M.
26
Charles, Jr.)
7
Additionally, ISG and JPMorgan argue that because the Repayment Guaranty is
1
2
governed by New York law, knowledge of New York law was required. However, ISG has
3
not shown that Nevada counsel such as Mr. Charles, who likewise has a nationwide
4
practice, could not have researched New York law. Finally, while ISG argues rates as high
5
as those requested in this case have been approved in Nevada for complex litigation, the
6
Court previously rejected requested rates of $775 per hour as “high when compared to
7
prevailing market rates in Nevada,” although the Court ultimately approved a rate of $600
8
per hour. In re USA Commercial Mortg. Co., 802 F. Supp. 2d 1147, 1180-81 (D. Nev.
9
2011).
The Court finds the requested rates well above a reasonable hourly rate for
10
11
Nevada attorneys based on the evidence before the Court. However, the attorneys’
12
familiarity with the prior litigation, their experience, the complexity of the issues which
13
were heavily litigated on multiple fronts, the substantial amount at issue, and the level of
14
success achieved weigh in favor of adjusting the hourly rate upward. The Court, in its
15
discretion, therefore will allow the highest billing attorneys to bill at the rate of $600 per
16
hour, in line with an approved Nevada rate for complex, high-stakes commercial litigation
17
as found in USA Commercial Mortgage.1 However, the Court will cap all other attorneys at
18
$490 per hour, in line with the evidence before the Court of the prevailing rate in Nevada.
19
Additionally, the Court will allow all attorneys who billed less than $490 to bill at their
20
usual rate. Accordingly, the Court approves the following hourly rates:
Ulmer & Berne LLP
21
22
Alexander M. Andrews
$315.00
23
Michael Ungar
$315.00
24
Todd Atkinson
$208.00
25
26
1
The Court also will allow Brent Gardner to bill at his rate of $545.00.
8
Christine Watchorn
1
$208.00
Lewis and Roca
2
3
Robert M. Charles, Jr.
$475-490.00 (as billed)
4
Brent Gardner
$545.00
5
M. Schoenike
$205.00
6
Morrison & Foerster LLP
7
James E. Hough
$600.00
8
Mark Edelstein
$600.00
9
Larry Engel
$600.00
10
Brian Matsui
$490.00
11
Larren Nashelsky
$600.00
12
Norman Rosenbaum
$490.00
13
Marc Young
$600.00
14
Melissa Crespo
$380.00
15
Leda Moloff
$430.00
16
James Newton
$445.00
17
Erica Richards
$490.00
18
Emily Richman
$490.00
19
Jonathan Rothberg
$490.00
20
Jordan Wishnew
$490.00
21
Stutman, Treister & Glatt PC
22
K. John Shaffer
$600.00
23
Eve Karasik
$490.00
24
Marina Fineman
$490.00
25
///
26
///
9
1
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
2
Bruce E. Van Dalsen
$600.00
3
Michael Lifrak
$490.00
4
Adam Wolfson
$490.00
5
Joseph Sarles
$490.00
6
Paul Slattery
$290.00-430.00 (as billed)
7
As to the reasonable hours expended, the Court will not reduce the requested
8
hours for block billing. Although counsel block-billed, Meritage has identified only one
9
entry where Meritage contends the tasks listed would not support the total time requested.
10
The only objection Meritage specifically mentions is time spent preparing for a hearing in
11
Ohio. However, the Court does not find the time spent preparing for this hearing excessive,
12
particularly considering the importance of the hearing in the Ohio action and the level of
13
success JPMorgan achieved in the Ohio action. The Court also will not reduce the hours
14
based on Meritage’s argument that ISG’s counsel spent duplicative time becoming familiar
15
with the case. Meritage points to no particular entries which would support a finding that
16
time unnecessarily was spent by counsel becoming familiar with the case. The Court has
17
reviewed the billing entries individually, and as a collective whole, and finds the hours
18
expended reasonable given the complexity and hard-fought nature of this matter.
19
F. Summary
20
Pursuant to the terms of the Repayment Guaranty, ISG is entitled to recover fees
21
incurred in the South Edge bankruptcy appeal and the Ohio action. Additionally, ISG may
22
recover fees incurred by ISG as sub-agent, and may recover fees incurred by ISG and
23
JPMorgan both before and after ISG formally was substituted into this case.
24
The Court will adjust the hourly rates requested to reflect the reasonable rates of
25
the relevant community. However, the Court finds the requested hours are reasonable. The
26
Court will order ISG to prepare a form of order consistent with the Court’s rulings as
10
1
detailed more fully throughout this Order.
2
III. CONCLUSION
3
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff Insolvency Services Group, Inc.’s
4
(“ISG”) Motion for Attorneys’ Fees (Doc. #123) is hereby GRANTED in part and DENIED
5
in part, as set forth in this Order.
6
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff Insolvency Services Group, Inc. shall
7
submit a proposed form of order consistent with this Court’s rulings as detailed in this
8
Order on or before February 27, 2014.
9
10
11
12
DATED: January 28, 2014
_______________________________
PHILIP M. PRO
United States District Judge
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
11
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?