G&G Closed Circuit Events LLC v. Montoya

Opinion

7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT AT SEATTLE 9

No. C19-665-RSM 11 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 12 v. MOTION FOR ATTORNEY FEES

13 FIDEL ANTONIO MONTOYA, an individual, 14 a/k/a Fidel Montoya Gomez, d/b/a El Salvador Pupuseria Tita’s, and the marital community of 15 Fidel Antonio Montoya and Sonia Y. Gomez,

16 Defendants.

17 This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff G & G Closed Circuit Events, LLC’s 18 19 Motion for Attorney Fees. Dkt. #17. On July 13, 2020, the Court granted Plaintiff’s Motion for 20 Default Judgment against Fidel Antonio Montoya based on claims under 47 U.S.C. § 605 and 21 permitted Plaintiff to file a separate motion for attorney’s fees. Dkt. #15. 22 District courts have broad discretion to determine the reasonableness of fees. Gates v. 23 Deukmejian, 987 F.2d 1392, 1398 (9th Cir. 1992). To make this determination, courts determine 24 the “lodestar amount,” which is calculated by multiplying the number of hours reasonably 25 26 27 expended by a reasonable hourly rate. Camacho v. Bridgeport Fin., Inc., 523 F.3d 973, 978 (9th 1 2 Cir. 2008). The lodestar figure is presumptively a reasonable fee award. Id. at 977. 3 The Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to fees as the prevailing party pursuant to 47 4 U.S.C. § 605(e)(3)(B)(iii), and has set forth adequate evidence to support an hourly rate of $350 5 for attorney and $175 for paralegal. The total requested amount of $4,000, less than the lodestar 6 calculation, is reasonable based on the hours worked and nature of this case. 7 Accordingly, the Court hereby finds and ORDERS that Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney 8 Fees, Dkt. #17, is GRANTED. Defendants shall pay Plaintiff $4,000 as an attorney fee award. 9 10 DATED this 31st day of August, 2020. 11

12 13 RICARDO S. MARTINEZ 14 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27