Aleksey Nechitaylo v. the Wedum Family Ltd. P'ship.

692 F. App'x 422

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: June 6, 2017
• Docket: 15-17550
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

Aleksey Nechitaylo appeals the district court’s order awarding Nechitaylo’s counsel attorneys’ fees. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

The district court’s determination that attorney Irene Karbelashvili demonstrated skill below the level expected of an attorney with her experience was not illogical, implausible, or without support in the record. See United States v. Hinkson, 585 F.3d 1247, 1261 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc). Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that $150 was a “reasonable hourly rate” for Karbelashvili based on the quality of her representation. See Van Gerwen v. Guar. Mut. Life Co., 214 F.3d 1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 2000).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in.reducing the number of hours claimed by 25 percent. The district court gave a “concise but clear” explanation of its reasons for the reduction. Moreno v. City of Sacramento, 534 F.3d 1106, 1111 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 437, 103 S.Ct. 1933, 76 L.Ed.2d 40 (1983)). The district court was not required to “set forth an hour-by-hour analysis of the fee request,” and had “the authority to make across-the-board percentage cuts ... in the number of hours claimed.” In re Smith, 586 F.3d 1169, 1174 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Gates v. Deukmejian, 987 F.2d 1392, 1399 (9th Cir. 1992)).

Nechitaylo shall bear all costs of appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 39(a)(2).

AFFIRMED.

*** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.