Nickel

FACTS

Nickel filed a pregnancy and sex discrimination lawsuit against ARB, Inc. Later that year, she made a Code of Civil Procedure section 998 offer to compromise. She offered to settle her claims for “$100,000.00 plus attorneys’ fees and costs, in an amount to be determined by the Court.” ARB, Inc. accepted the offer. The court entered a stipulated judgment in favor of Nickel. It ordered “that Plaintiff Rachel Nickel shall recover $100,000.00 from Defendant ARB, Inc. together with Plaintiff’s costs and attorneys fees, the amount of which shall be later determined by the Court.” Nickel filed a March 29, 2013 motion wherein she sought $93,421.50 in attorney fees and $7,609.19 in costs. ARB, Inc. opposed the motion, arguing that the attorney fee award should not exceed $44,956.00. In its minute order, the court stated: “The cause having been briefed, argued, and taken under submission, the court now rules as follows: (a) motion for attorney fees granted in the total sum of $30,000.00; Serrano v. Priest (1977) 20 [Cal]. 3d 25; (b) the court declines to award costs in addition to those sought under the Memorandum of Costs and Disbursements filed February 13, 2013.” Nickel appeals.…