Attorney Fee Petition

Attorney Fee Petition

Attorney Fee Petition

A fee petition documents hours, rates, and the basis for entitlement. The lodestar method multiplying reasonable hours by reasonable rates is the standard approach, subject to adjustment.

Rule 54(d)(2) sets a 14-day filing period absent a different order.

Alternative Names:

Fee Petition, Motion for Attorney Fees

Why it Matters?

Billing records are produced with the petition, which exposes the prevailing party's staffing, rates, and time entries to line-by-line challenge. Block billing, vague entries, and duplicative staffing that would draw client write-downs draw judicial reductions on the same grounds. Opposing a petition is frequently more productive than parties expect, since courts routinely reduce hours substantially where the records support it.

Frequently Confused with

Frequently asked questions

What is exposed by filing a petition?

What is exposed by filing a petition?

Billing records showing staffing, rates, and time entries, which are subject to line-by-line challenge and judicial reduction.

Is opposing worthwhile?

Is opposing worthwhile?

Frequently. Courts routinely reduce hours substantially where records show block billing, vague entries, or duplicative staffing.