Cecilia Ruiz Gonzalez, et al. v. Taqueria El Texano, LLC, et al.

Summary

This Report and Recommendation addresses Plaintiffs’ petition for attorney fees and costs following a default judgment against Defendants for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Michigan wage law, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. The magistrate judge recommends awarding $6,534.00 in attorney and paralegal fees and $1,934.68 in costs. The recommendation was issued after Defendants failed to respond to the fee petition.

Holdings

1. The reasonable fee is calculated using the lodestar method: the number of hours reasonably expended multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate.
2. The requested hourly rate of $450 for Plaintiffs' attorney and $135 for the paralegal was reasonable.
3. The claimed nine attorney hours and 18.4 paralegal hours were reasonable.
4. The requested $1,934.68 in costs was reasonable under the circumstances and should be awarded.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Plaintiffs were entitled to recover the requested attorney fees and paralegal fees after obtaining a default judgment.
2. Whether the requested hourly rates and hours expended were reasonable under the lodestar method.
3. Whether Plaintiffs' requested litigation costs, including service and alternative-service expenses, were reasonable and recoverable.

Disposition

other