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Federal Motions for Attorney Fees Must be Filed Within 14 Days of Disposition of Post-Trial Motions
Federal Motions for Attorney Fees Must be Filed Within 14 Days of
Disposition of Post-Trial Motions
Ronald Bailey prevailed in a negligence/excessive force suit against police
in Riverside County, California after they removed him from an adult book
store and arrested him. The defendants filed motions for partial judgment
and for a new trial, pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 50(b) and 59 respectively.
When those motions were denied, more than 14 days after the judgment was
entered, Bailey's lawyers filed a motion for attorney fees under Fed.R.Civ.
P. 54(d)(2)(B). That rule requires motions for attorney fees to be filed
within 14 days after a judgment is entered. Even so, the district court
granted the motion.
On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit agreed with other
circuit courts that the 14 day time limit for filing motions for attorney
fees is tolled pending resolution of post-trial motions, pursuant to
Fed.R.Civ.P. 50(b), 52(b) and 59. Thus, the 9th Circuit affirmed the
district court. See: Bailey v. County of Riverside, 414 F.3d 1023 (9th Cir.
2005).
Disposition of Post-Trial Motions
Ronald Bailey prevailed in a negligence/excessive force suit against police
in Riverside County, California after they removed him from an adult book
store and arrested him. The defendants filed motions for partial judgment
and for a new trial, pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 50(b) and 59 respectively.
When those motions were denied, more than 14 days after the judgment was
entered, Bailey's lawyers filed a motion for attorney fees under Fed.R.Civ.
P. 54(d)(2)(B). That rule requires motions for attorney fees to be filed
within 14 days after a judgment is entered. Even so, the district court
granted the motion.
On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit agreed with other
circuit courts that the 14 day time limit for filing motions for attorney
fees is tolled pending resolution of post-trial motions, pursuant to
Fed.R.Civ.P. 50(b), 52(b) and 59. Thus, the 9th Circuit affirmed the
district court. See: Bailey v. County of Riverside, 414 F.3d 1023 (9th Cir.
2005).
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Related legal case
Bailey v. County of Riverside
| Year | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 414 F.3d 1023 (9th Cir. 2005) |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 0 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
Bailey v. County of Riverside, 414 F.3d 1023 (9th Cir. 07/08/2005)
[1] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
[2] Nos. 03-56545 & 03-57107
[3] 414 F.3d 1023, 2005 Daily Journal D.A.R. 8273, 05 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 6033, 2005
[4] July 8, 2005
[5] RONALD O. BAILEY, M.D., PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE; LARRY SMITH, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF, AN INDIVIDUAL; FRANK TIBURZIO, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, AN INDIVIDUAL; GARY COLBERT, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, AN INDIVIDUAL, DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS.
[6] Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Virginia A. Phillips, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CV-01-00403-VAP.
[7] Counsel
[8] Christopher D. Lockwood, Arias, Lockwood & Gray, San Bernardino, California, and Bruce E. Disenhouse, Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs, Riverside, California, for the defendants-appellants.
[9] William S. Hulsy, Santa Ana, California, for the plaintiff-appellee.
[10] The opinion of the court was delivered by: Schroeder, Chief Judge
[11] FOR PUBLICATION
[12] Argued and Submitted April 7, 2005 -- Pasadena, California
[13] Before: Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, Harry Pregerson, and Stephen S. Trott, Circuit Judges.
[14] OPINION
[15] This is an appeal from a verdict and an award of attorneys' fees in an action for excessive force under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and for negligence under California state law. The case arises from an episode in which the defendants, County of Riverside deputy sheriffs Frank Tiburzio and Gary Colbert, forcibly ejected the plaintiff, Ronald O. Bailey, from an adult bookstore and arrested him.
[16] The principal issue on the merits relates to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's negligence verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The defendants also contend the motion for attorneys' fees was untimely. We affirm both the judgment and award of fees.
[17] [1] The jury found that the defendants violated the plain-tiff's civil rights by using excessive force during his arrest, and that the defendants were negligent. The jury awarded separate damages on each of the claims. The defendants argue that there was not substantial evidence to support the award of damages on a negligence theory, over and above damages already awarded for excessive force. A jury's verdict must be upheld if supported by "substantial evidence." See Pavao v. Pagay, 307 F.3d 915, 918 (9th Cir. 2002). Substantial evidence is evidence adequate to support the jury's conclusion, even if it is possible to draw a contrary conclusion from the same evidence. Id. Although the evidence was thin with respect to the defendants' negligent conduct, the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's negligence conclusion. The amount of the jury verdict was far less than the amount requested by the plaintiff and was substantially reduced for the contributory negligence of the plaintiff. We must affirm the judgment.
[18] [2] We issue our disposition as an opinion for publication because of the need to address the issue of the timeliness of the plaintiff's post-judgment request for attorneys' fees. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2)(B) states: "Unless otherwise provided by statute or order of the court, the motion [for attorneys' fees] must be filed no later than 14 days after entry of judgment." The plaintiff filed his motion for attorneys' fees more than 14 days after the judgment on the special verdict, but within 14 days after the district court's order denying the defendants' motion for partial judgment pursuant to Rule 50(b) and for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59. The issue is whether the Rule 54(d)(2)(B) time limit is tolled pending the outcome of post-trial motions under Rule 50 or Rule 59. This is an issue that has not yet been expressly resolved in this Circuit, although it has been addressed in others. We agree with their holdings.
[19] [3] The other circuits to reach this question have held that the requirement that the motion for attorneys' fees "must be filed no later than 14 days after entry of judgment" is tolled pending the outcome of post-trial motions under Rule 50 or Rule 59. See Members First Fed. Credit Union v. Members First Credit Union of Fla., 244 F.3d 806, 807 (11th Cir. 2001) (per curiam); Weyant v. Okst, 198 F.3d 311, 314 (2d Cir. 1999). This is because those motions operate to suspend the finality of the district court's judgment. A "judgment" for purposes of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure includes a decree or order "from which an appeal lies." Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(a); see also Weyant, 198 F.3d at 314. The judgment was not appealable during the pendency of the post trial motions in this case. See Weyant, 198 F.3d at 314. Therefore, the Rule 54(d)(2)(B) motion for fees is timely if filed no later than 14 days after the resolution of a Rule 50(b), Rule 52(b), or Rule 59 motion. This petition for fees was timely. The district court did not err in granting the timely motion for fees.
[20] AFFIRMED
[1] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
[2] Nos. 03-56545 & 03-57107
[3] 414 F.3d 1023, 2005 Daily Journal D.A.R. 8273, 05 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 6033, 2005
[4] July 8, 2005
[5] RONALD O. BAILEY, M.D., PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE; LARRY SMITH, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF, AN INDIVIDUAL; FRANK TIBURZIO, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, AN INDIVIDUAL; GARY COLBERT, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, AN INDIVIDUAL, DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS.
[6] Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Virginia A. Phillips, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CV-01-00403-VAP.
[7] Counsel
[8] Christopher D. Lockwood, Arias, Lockwood & Gray, San Bernardino, California, and Bruce E. Disenhouse, Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs, Riverside, California, for the defendants-appellants.
[9] William S. Hulsy, Santa Ana, California, for the plaintiff-appellee.
[10] The opinion of the court was delivered by: Schroeder, Chief Judge
[11] FOR PUBLICATION
[12] Argued and Submitted April 7, 2005 -- Pasadena, California
[13] Before: Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, Harry Pregerson, and Stephen S. Trott, Circuit Judges.
[14] OPINION
[15] This is an appeal from a verdict and an award of attorneys' fees in an action for excessive force under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and for negligence under California state law. The case arises from an episode in which the defendants, County of Riverside deputy sheriffs Frank Tiburzio and Gary Colbert, forcibly ejected the plaintiff, Ronald O. Bailey, from an adult bookstore and arrested him.
[16] The principal issue on the merits relates to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's negligence verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The defendants also contend the motion for attorneys' fees was untimely. We affirm both the judgment and award of fees.
[17] [1] The jury found that the defendants violated the plain-tiff's civil rights by using excessive force during his arrest, and that the defendants were negligent. The jury awarded separate damages on each of the claims. The defendants argue that there was not substantial evidence to support the award of damages on a negligence theory, over and above damages already awarded for excessive force. A jury's verdict must be upheld if supported by "substantial evidence." See Pavao v. Pagay, 307 F.3d 915, 918 (9th Cir. 2002). Substantial evidence is evidence adequate to support the jury's conclusion, even if it is possible to draw a contrary conclusion from the same evidence. Id. Although the evidence was thin with respect to the defendants' negligent conduct, the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's negligence conclusion. The amount of the jury verdict was far less than the amount requested by the plaintiff and was substantially reduced for the contributory negligence of the plaintiff. We must affirm the judgment.
[18] [2] We issue our disposition as an opinion for publication because of the need to address the issue of the timeliness of the plaintiff's post-judgment request for attorneys' fees. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2)(B) states: "Unless otherwise provided by statute or order of the court, the motion [for attorneys' fees] must be filed no later than 14 days after entry of judgment." The plaintiff filed his motion for attorneys' fees more than 14 days after the judgment on the special verdict, but within 14 days after the district court's order denying the defendants' motion for partial judgment pursuant to Rule 50(b) and for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59. The issue is whether the Rule 54(d)(2)(B) time limit is tolled pending the outcome of post-trial motions under Rule 50 or Rule 59. This is an issue that has not yet been expressly resolved in this Circuit, although it has been addressed in others. We agree with their holdings.
[19] [3] The other circuits to reach this question have held that the requirement that the motion for attorneys' fees "must be filed no later than 14 days after entry of judgment" is tolled pending the outcome of post-trial motions under Rule 50 or Rule 59. See Members First Fed. Credit Union v. Members First Credit Union of Fla., 244 F.3d 806, 807 (11th Cir. 2001) (per curiam); Weyant v. Okst, 198 F.3d 311, 314 (2d Cir. 1999). This is because those motions operate to suspend the finality of the district court's judgment. A "judgment" for purposes of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure includes a decree or order "from which an appeal lies." Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(a); see also Weyant, 198 F.3d at 314. The judgment was not appealable during the pendency of the post trial motions in this case. See Weyant, 198 F.3d at 314. Therefore, the Rule 54(d)(2)(B) motion for fees is timely if filed no later than 14 days after the resolution of a Rule 50(b), Rule 52(b), or Rule 59 motion. This petition for fees was timely. The district court did not err in granting the timely motion for fees.
[20] AFFIRMED