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Fee Expert John O’Connor Wins 60 Percent Fee Reduction in Federal Court

January 11, 2019 | Posted in : Fee Award, Fee Expert / Member, Fee Reduction, Fee Request, Hourly Rates, NALFA News, Prevailing Party Issues

In a case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Jayantibhai Patel, et al. v. City of Long Beach et. al., NALFA member John D. O’Connor of O’Connor & Associates in San Francisco served as an expert witness on the reasonable of attorney fees on behalf of the non-prevailing party, the City of Long Beach.  Plaintiffs’ attorney Frank Weiser requested $344,000 in fees for prevailing in a claim against the City of Long Beach that its ordinance allowing unannounced inspection of hotel records amounted to an unreasonable search and seizure. 

Attorney fee expert John O’Connor recommended the fee request at $122,000.  The court ultimately awarded $143,880 in attorney fees, reducing plaintiffs’ fee request by 60 percent.  The court keyed in on several issues raised by O’Connor.  U.S. District Judge Andre Birottee cited John O’Connor’s expert declaration several times in the fee ruling.  On hourly rates, Judge Birotte, said, “The Court finds Mr. O’Connor analysis more compelling”. 

For more on John O’Connor, visit www.joclaw.com.