Zoroastrian Center and Darb-E-Mehr of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. v. Rustam Guiv Foundation of New York et al

Filing 155

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Liam O'Grady on 1/4/2017. (awac)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Alexandria Division

ZOROASTRIAN CENTER AND DaRB-E-MEHR OF

Metropolitan Washington, D.C.,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. l-13-cv-980
-V-

Rustam Guiv Foundation, et al..
Defendants.

Memorandum Opinion

This matter comes before the Court on remand from the Fourth Circuit Court ofAppeals,
Dkt. No. 140. The Fourth Circuit remanded the case only with respect to the calculation of
attorneys' fees. For the reasons discussed below, the Court ORDERS Defendants to submit an

appropriate downward adjustment ofattorneys' fees, and supporting evidence as appropriate,

within twenty-one (21) days ofthe issuance ofthis Order. Plaintiffshall have fourteen (14) days
to respond to Defendants' filing if it so chooses.

I. Background^

This dispute arose out ofafailed effort to construct aZoroastrian worship center in

Fairfax, Virginia. Plaintiff, Zoroastrian Center and Darb-E-Mehr ofMetroplitan Washington
D.C. entered into aninety-nine year lease with Defendants Rustam Guiv Foundation ofNew

York, the land owner, and other trustee defendants. Following difficulties in the relationship,
Defendants terminated the lease. Article XIII ofthe parties' lease states that "[i]n the event of
any litigation between the parties hereto, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to
' TOs Background section focuses on ftcts relevant to the present Motion. Amore fulsome recitation ofthe

extensive fectual record can be found in the Court's May 12,2014 Memorandum Opinion. See Dkt. No. 80.