EFTA01372150.pdf

Page 35 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97188, * necessity of some expenses, see ECF No. 90 at 11 (questioning, as example, Markun Zusman Frenier & Compton, LLP's request for reimbursement for travel, meals, and hotels for an "investigation" trip to Oregon because this matter does not involve claims under Oregon law),,, the Court finds that Class Counsel's expenses are adequately documented, proper, and reasonable. The proposed expense amount supports the award Plaintiffs seek. 11 The Court observes that Madam Zusman Freniere & Compton. LLP maintains an office in Portland. Oregon. See ECF No. 86-3 Ex. 3 (overview of finn) 5. The Court approves an award of fees and expenses in the amount of $2,100,000 As discussed, courts have approved a wide range of awards for attorneys' fees and expenses in cases similar to this one. This Court will award Plaintiffs a total of $2,100,000 in attorneys' fees and expenses. This award represents an attempt by the Court to reconcile Plaintiffs' proposed [*84] fee submissions with Defendants' objections to the amount of detail in Class Counsel's billing records, the high billing rates of Class Counsel attorneys relative to other attorneys working on similar matters in this community, the potential application of a modest lodestar multiplier, and the difficulty of estimating an accurate percentage-of-recovery calculation against which to cross-check the Parties' proposed lodestar calculations. CONCLUSION The Court finds that the proposed settlement between Plaintiffs and Defendants is fair, adequate, and reasonable. Plaintiffs' motion for final approval of the N14 Class settlement, final approval of Class Counsel, and certification of the N14 Class is granted. Plaintiffs' motion for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses is granted in part: Plaintiffs are awarded a total of $2,100,000 in attorneys' fees and expenses and service awards of $4,000 each for the eighteen Class Representatives is granted. An appropriate order follows. DATE: 26 July 2016 /s/ William H. Walls William H. Walls Senior United States District Court Judge ORDER Walls, Senior District Judge This matter having come before the Court on Plaintiffs' Motion for Final Approval of Settlement [1'85] and Related Relief, ECF No. 92, and Plaintiffs' Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Expenses, ECF No. 86, for the reasons expressed in the accompanying Opinion, it is hereby ORDERED that: For internal use only CONFIDENTIAL - PURSUANT TO FED. R. CRIM. P. 6(e) DB-SDNY-0065764 CONFIDENTIAL SDNY_GM_00211948 EFTA01372150