Rojas v. Bosch Solar Energy Corporation

Background

Plaintiffs Steve R. Rojas and Andrea N. Rojas sought attorneys’ fees, reimbursement of litigation costs, and service awards in connection with a class-action settlement with Bosch Solar Energy Corporation. The court stated that notice of the fee motion was provided to settlement-class members and that no member objected to the settlement or the fee motion.

Attorneys’ Fees

The court evaluated the requested fees using the lodestar method, which generally calculates fees by multiplying reasonable hours worked by reasonable hourly rates. Settlement class counsel reported a lodestar of $4,488,145.25 based on 5,458.75 hours of work. The court found that amount reasonable and concluded that the requested $1,012,499.87 fee was reasonable under the lodestar analysis and a percentage comparison to the settlement’s estimated constructive value of $7 million to $15 million.

The court also considered the litigation’s complexity, counsel’s work and risk, the settlement’s quality, and the absence of objections. The court noted that counsel’s motion incorrectly stated that the requested attorneys’ fees and costs totaled $1,400,000. The actual sum was $1,400,030. To conform the award to the settlement agreement and correct the arithmetic error, the court reduced the attorneys’ fee award by $30, from $1,012,499.87 to $1,012,469.87.

Costs and Service Awards

The court found reasonable the requested reimbursement of $387,530.13 in out-of-pocket costs, including expenses connected to investigating claims, retaining experts, legal research, electronic discovery, and filing fees. The resulting total award for attorneys’ fees and costs was $1,400,000.

The court also found Steve Rojas and Andrea Rojas eligible for service awards based on their substantial time and effort, participation in the case, and service to the settlement class. It approved a $5,000 service award for each of them, in addition to any relief they might receive under the settlement agreement.

Disposition

The court granted plaintiffs’ motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs and service awards. It awarded $1,012,469.87 in attorneys’ fees, reimbursed $387,530.13 in costs, approved $5,000 for each class representative, and reserved continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over disputes related to allocating the awarded fees and costs. Judge Beth Labson Freeman directed immediate entry of the order under Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.