Downes
Downes v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America
United States District Court, Northern District of CaliforniaNovember 22, 20243:23-cv-01643California1,584 words
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
MAUREEN DOWNES,
Case No. 23-cv-01643-RS Plaintiff, 11 v. ORDER GRANTING ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS
UNUM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF AMERICA, Defendant.
I. INTRODUCTION Plaintiff Maureen Downes moves for an order awarding her $97,965 in attorney fees and $625.07 in costs incurred during the successful litigation of her claim against Defendant Unum Life Insurance Company of America pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”). Plaintiff sought to hold Defendant liable for denying her long-term disability benefits and secured a favorable judgment. See Downs v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 23-cv-01643, 20 2024 WL 3908106, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2024). For the reasons explained below, the motion 21 is granted.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
23 In an ERISA action, the court has discretion to award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs 24 to either party. See 29 U.S.C.…