First Chatham Bank v. Landers et al
Filing
51
ORDER granting 49 Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by Honorable Patrick Michael Duffy on 11/3/2011.(jlin, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
CHARLESTON DIVISION
First Chatham Bank
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
Christopher T. Landers
)
and Michael D. Lang
)
)
Defendants.
)
______________________________)
C/A No.: 2:11-CV-238-PMD
ORDER
This matter is before the court upon First Chatham Bank’s (“Plaintiff” or “FCB”) motion
for attorney’s fees and costs as to Christopher T. Landers (“Defendant” or “Landers”).1
Defendant did not file a response to Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees and costs.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff sued Landers alleging that it loaned him money, and he failed to satisfy his
promise to pay the promissory note. On September 29, 2011, the court entered an order granting
summary judgment in favor of FCB. In that order, the court held that FCB was entitled to a
judgment for the amount of the note, interest, and attorney’s fees.
FCB claims that its lawyers and paralegals worked the following hours throughout the
case and proposes the following fee schedule:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Attorney Morgan Templeton:
Attorney Taylor Stair:
Paralegal Sarah Jane Mock:
Paralegal Christie Gilbert:
35.3 hours
18.1 hours
6.7 hours
.4 hour
$250.00/hr
$175.00/hr
$125.00/hr
$125.00/hr
$8,825.00
$3167.50
$837.50
$50.00
__________________
Total: $12,880.00
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This Court ordered a stay as to Defendant Michael D. Lang (“Lang”) after he filed for bankruptcy. See Order of
Abstention as to Defendant Lang, Sep. 13, 2011.
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Plaintiff proposes dividing the total amount listed above in half, because that work is attributable
to both Landers and Lang. After dividing $12,880.00 in half, Plaintiff attributes $6,440.00 to
Landers. Additionally, Plaintiff asserts that four (4) hours were spent preparing this motion,
amounting to $1,000.00 of additional attorney’s fees. Finally, Plaintiff asserts that supplemental
proceedings are anticipated to be necessary in order to collect upon the judgment. Plaintiff
estimates that those supplemental proceedings will require at least ten (10) hours of work,
amounting to $2,500.00 of additional attorney’s fees.
In addition to attorney’s fees, Plaintiff seeks recovery of $349.84 in costs. FCB arrives at
this number by splitting the costs attributable to both defendants in half—$350.00 filing fee and
$169.68 Westlaw/copy costs—and adding a $90.00 service of process fee that was only
attributable to Landers.
ANALYSIS
“The general rule is that attorney's fees are not recoverable unless authorized by contract
or statute.” Blumberg v. Nealco, Inc., 427 S.E.2d 659, 660 (S.C. 1993) (citations omitted).
In
this case, attorney’s fees are authorized by contract—the promissory note executed on June 1,
2009 provided that Landers would pay reasonable attorney’s fees and costs if FCB was forced to
use legal proceedings to enforce the note. The contract provides that the fees cannot exceed
fifteen (15) percent of the principal and interest owed at the time FCB institutes legal
proceedings to enforce the note. In this case, the fees and costs that FCB seeks are well below
that limitation. Therefore, the only issue remaining is whether the fees and costs FCB seeks are
reasonable.
“When a contract exists, the award of attorney’s fees is left to the discretion of the trial
judge and will not be disturbed unless an abuse of discretion is shown.” American Federal Bank,
FSB v. Number One Main Joint Venture, 467 S.E.2d 439 (S.C. 1996) (citing Smith v. Smith, 216
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S.E.2d 541 (1975)). South Carolina courts generally consider six factors to determine the
reasonableness of an award of attorney's fees:
1) [the] nature, extent, and difficulty of the legal services rendered; 2) [the] time
and labor devoted to the case; 3) [the] professional standing of counsel; 4) [the]
contingency of compensation; 5) [the] fee customarily charged in the locality for
similar services; and 6) [the] beneficial results obtained.
Blumberg, 427 S.E.2d at 660 (citing Collins v. Collins, 122 S.E.2d 1 (1961)).
This case
involved moderately difficult legal issues; counsel devoted an appropriate amount of time and
labor to the litigation; counsel is in good professional standing; FCB paid counsel hourly, so this
was not a contingency fee case; the attorney’s fees requested by counsel are commensurate with
the fees customarily charged in Charleston, South Carolina for similar services; and counsel
achieved a favorable result.
After considering the applicable factors, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s amount of
attorney’s fees and costs related to the underlying litigation and this motion are reasonable.
However, the court declines to award the $2,500 of attorney’s fees that Plaintiff estimates will
occur, because those fees will only be known after the anticipated proceedings take place. At
that time, Plaintiff may file a supplemental motion for attorney’s fees.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the court ORDERS that Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees
and costs be GRANTED in the amount of $7440.00 in attorney’s fees and $349.84 in costs.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
November 3, 2011
Charleston, SC
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