attorney-fees
Reasonable Attorney Fees
<p>IANAL: What is the thought process used to calculate "reasonable attorney fees"?</p>

<p>CONTEXT: <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799/0718/0718.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">718.303 Obligations of owners and occupants; remedies.—</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The prevailing party in any such action or in any action in which the
  purchaser claims a right of voidability based upon contractual
  provisions as required in s. 718.503(1)(a) is entitled to recover
  reasonable attorney’s fees.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The goal is to be able to implement a spreadsheet calculation: one should be able to define the inputs and reasonable and customary constants used in the calculation</p>

<p>I regret to inform you that it is unlikely you would be able to make a spreadsheet to calculate "reasonable atty's fees". You could make one for filing for reasonable atty's fees, but the reasonableness adds in the ambiguity.</p>

<p>When I clerked for a Fed. Judge, more or less I would skim through the time spent by the attorney(s) and the time spent by the paralegal(s).</p>

<p>Then when considering the case and its complexity (esp. after reviewing all the pleadings, etc.) and it didn't seem especially excessive, I would recommend accepting it.</p>

<p>If I thought it was excessive, like they were really milking their claim for atty's fees, I would review more thoroughly. In that case, I would suggest knocking down hours for certain times spent or changing certain activities from Atty to Para, such as "Atty: Check PACER/CMECF for case status - 0.5hr" I would knock down to 0.1 and change to the paralegal, Which could change that one entry from like $300 down to like $60. Do that four times and you get a grand. Same with large times spent "filing" documents, it doesn't take a long time to file documents as long as cmecf is up. I usually wouldn't consider adjusting "skilled" entries, like Analyzing, Drafting, Editing, Strategizing, etc., unless they seems especially egregious (considering case complexity). </p>

<p>Also, like commented above, when there are an excessive number of attorneys, the time may get knocked back as the number of hours spent on it may be considered unreasonable. </p>

<p>Then, after I went through everything, I would give my bench brief to the Judge, he would likely make changes to it and give it back. Then I would draft the Order, he would sign, and it would be entered.</p>
