Ruff
Ruff v. County of Kings
Opinion
Opinion
Wanger, J.
MEMORANDUM DECISION GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES (Doc. 211) AND AWARDING COSTS
Before the Court are Plaintiffs motion for an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 , Plaintiffs bill of costs, and Defendants County of Kings and Mark Sherman’s opposing bill of costs.
A. PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES.
Plaintiff Daniel Ruff moves for an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 in the amount of $217,365.00.
1. Governing Standards.
42 U.S.C. § 1988 (b) provides:
“ ‘In determining what a reasonable attorneys’ fee entails, the district court must apply the hybrid approach adopted in Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433 , 103 S.Ct. 1933 , 76 L.Ed.2d 40 (1983).’ ... ‘The most useful starting point for determining the amount of a reasonable fee is (1) the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation (2) multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate.’ ... The resulting figure is known as the ‘Lodestar.’ ” WalMart Stores, Inc. v. City of Turlock, 483 F.Supp.2d 1023, 1040 (E.D.Cal.2007). Although there is a strong presumption that the lodestar represents a reasonable fee, Burlington v. Dague, 505 U.S. 557, 562 , 112 S.Ct. 2638 ,…