BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Skunk Incorporated

Opinion

WO 2 3 4 5 8 9 BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP, No. CV-18-02332-PHX-JAT 10 Plaintiff, ORDER 11 V. Skunk Incorporated, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a) and for the reasons in this Court’s 16 Order at Doc. 202, 17 IT IS ORDERED that Defendants’ motion for attorney’s fees (Doc. 219) is granted. Defendants are awarded attorney’s fees in the amount of $3,537.50 against Plaintiff’s counsel.! 20 Dated this 14th day of May, 2020. 21 / □ Lyi AC 22 James A. Teilborg 03 Senior United States District Judge ' Neither party briefed whether this award should be against the attorney, the client, or both. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(5)(A) provi es: “If the motion is granted-or if the disclosure or requested discovery is provided after the motion was filed-the court must, after giving an opportunity to be heard, require the party or deponent whose conduct necessitated the motion, the party or attorney advising the conduct, or both to pay the 26 movant’s reasonable expenses incurred in maxing the motion, including attorney’s fees.” Estate of Byrd v. Teater, No. CVFO6900 OWW/GSA, 2008 WL 2876396, at *2 (E.D. Cal. 27 July 24, 5008) quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5)(A). Here, the Court Pranted a motion to compel under Rule 37(a) and based on the record finds that fees should be assessed against 28 counsel, not the client.