Fair Housing Council v. PENASQUITOS CASABLANCA CASABLANCA OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

ORDER:

(1) OVERRULING OBJECTIONS TO REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION RE FEES AND COSTS AWARD TO PLAINTIFF REED;

(2) ADOPTING RECOMMENDATION RE FEES AND COSTS AWARD TO PLAINTIFF REED;

(3) OVERRULING IN PART AND SUSTAINING IN PART OBJECTIONS TO RECOMMENDATION RE DENIAL OF FEES AND COSTS AWARD TO PLAINTIFF FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL; AND

(4) AWARDING PORTION OF CLAIMED COSTS TO PLAINTIFF FAIR HOUSING COUNSEL

Following jury verdicts for plaintiffs in this fair housing civil rights action, the undersigned district judge referred the Applications for attorneys’ fees and costs of plaintiff Joann Reed (“Reed”) and of plaintiff Fair Housing Council of San Die go (“FHCSD”) to Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Beneivengo for a Report and Recommendation (“R & R”). Dkt Nos. 114, 115. Judge Beneivengo received briefing from the parties on both Applications and filed R & Rs on August 31, 2007 and September 4, 2007. Reed had requested an award of $347,198.75 in attorneys’ fees — a figure including a 25% contingent fee risk multiplier applied to a lodestar figure of $277,759.00 in claimed fees — and $16,001.51 in litigation costs and expenses. Judge Beneivengo recommends Reed’s Application be granted, but…