Baluma, S.A. v. Chow ( 2023 )

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 * * * 7 BALUMA SA. d/b/a ENJOY PUNTA DEL Case No. 2:20-cv-1752-KJD-EJY ESTE & CASINO, 8 ORDER Plaintiff, 9 v. 10 JOHNNY CHUN-YU CHOW, 11 Defendant. 12 Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs and Interest 13 (#29). Though the time for doing so has passed, Defendant has failed to file a response in 14 opposition. 15 The Court previously granted Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s 16 claims for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Plaintiff 17 then filed the present motion for attorneys’ fees, costs and interest under Local Rule 54-14. The 18 Court finds that costs should be awarded pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d): 19 “[u]nless a federal statute, these rules, or a court order provides otherwise, costs—other than 20 attorney’s fees—should be allowed to the prevailing party…” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1). Rule 21 54(d) further provides “[a] claim for attorney’s fees and related nontaxable expenses must be 22 made by motion unless the substantive law requires those fees to be proved at trial as an element 23 of damages.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(2). 24 The Court has already found that an enforceable agreement existed between Baluma and 25 Defendant Chow. That agreement expressly authorized Baluma to recover attorneys’ fees and 26 costs incurred in any effort to collect upon Contract. See Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Cost and 27 Interest, Doc. No. 29, Exhibit 1, Casino Credit Fact Sheet; Exhibit 2, Draw Request. As set forth 28 1 in the Casino Credit Fact Sheet, Chow agreed “that Casino may charge, and I agree to pay, 2 interest from the date of issuance of such Marker at the maximum rate permitted by Nevada law, 3 up to [eighteen percent (18%)] per annum, and all collection costs incurred in connection 4 therewith, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and court costs.” Ex. 1, Casino Credit 5 Fact Sheet, p. 5 (emphasis added). Further, each of the Draw Requests provide: “In addition to 6 any amounts authorized by law, I agree to pay all costs of collection, including the payee’s 7 attorneys’ fees and court costs.” Ex. 2, Draw Requests (emphasis added). Accordingly, 8 Plaintiff’s motion for attorneys’ fees, costs and interest is granted. 9 In determining appropriate fees to be awarded, the court uses the lodestar method. As 10 stated in Morales v. City of San Rafael, 96 F.3d 359, 363 (9th Cir. 1996), “[t]he ‘lodestar’ is 11 calculated by multiplying the number of hours the prevailing party reasonably expended on the 12 litigation by a reasonable hourly rate.” After computing this amount, the court then assesses 13 various factors1 to determine whether to adjust this lodestar figure. Id. at 363-64. 14 Plaintiff has adequately presented to the Court detailed billing records for each attorney 15 that worked on this action. The Court must first determine whether the rate and number of hours 16 are reasonable. Plaintiff’s attorneys have supported with evidence that the hourly rates for 17 commercial litigation attorneys based in Las Vegas seeking collection of gaming markers across 18 the United States and internationally are $525.00 for partners and $345.00 for associates. The 19 Court finds that these are reasonable rates. Furthermore, the attorneys have shown that over a 20 three-year period, they spent 112.97 hours in prosecuting this action billing a total of $50,698.56. 21 It appears that these hours were spent preparing motions, conducting depositions, keeping up to 22 date with correspondence, and analyzing and reviewing Defendant’s filings. The Court finds the 23 hours expended by Plaintiff’s counsel reasonable. 24 25 1 The twelve factors bearing on the reasonableness of the fees are: (1) the time and labor required, (2) the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, (3) the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly, (4) the 26 preclusion of other employment by the attorney due to acceptance of the case, (5) the customary fee, (6) whether the fee is fixed or contingent, (7) time limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances, (8) the amount involved 27 and the results obtained, (9) the experience, reputation, and ability of the attorneys, (10) the undesirability of the case, (11) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client, and (12) awards in similar cases. 28 Kerr v. Screen Extras Guild, Inc., 526 F.2d 67, 70 (9th Cir. 1975). The Kerr factors are consistent with the local rule governing motions for attorney’s fees. LR 54-14(b)(3). ] Finally, the Court must determine whether to increase or decrease the lodestar amount 2 | based on the Kerr factors. Plaintiffs attorneys have provided a brief summary of the hours, rates, 3 | results obtained, skill, experience, and difficulty of questions in accordance with Local Rule 54- 4| 14(b). The Court does not find that there should be an increase or a decrease in the lodestar amount. 5 | Therefore, the fee amount of $50,698.56 is a reasonable amount and will be awarded. 6 Costs have already been taxed and awarded in accordance with Local Rule 54-1 in the 7 | amount of $3,526.60. Finally, as set forth in the table on page eleven of Plaintiff's Motion, Doc. 8 | No. 29, and as authorized by the default interest rate agreed to by Chow in the Contract, specifically the Casino Credit Fact Sheet attached to Doc. No. 29, Exhibit 1, Baluma is entitled 10 | to interest at 18% per annum, which totals $257,668.90 as of April 7, 2022 and which amounts 11 | shall continue to accrue at the daily amounts contemplated above until such amounts are paid in 12 | full. 13 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Attorney’s Fees, 14 | Costs and Interest (#29) is GRANTED; 15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court enter JUDGMENT for Plaintiff 16 | and against Defendant in the amount of $332,771.50, the total of the attorney’s fees, costs and 17 | interest. 18 | Dated this 20th day of March, 2023. 20 Kent] Dawson □□□ 21 United States District Judge 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -3-