Reasonableness Of Fees: Over $1.2 Million In Fees To Prevailing Party Was No Abuse Of Discretion

Lower Court Already Reduced Fee Request; This Initial Reduction Did Not Lead To The Conclusions That A Denial In Entirety Of Fees Or Further Reductions Were Required.

            Plaintiff prevailed in a contractual breach claim against a municipality in Air Combat USA v. City of Fullerton, Case Nos. G059914 et al. (4^th Dist., Div. 3 June 29,2023) (unpublished), being awarded $1.2 million in compensatory damages although that was pared down significantly by the lower court through post-trial motions.  However, the lower court granted plaintiff $1,229,520 in attorney’s fees.  City did not alter that result on appeal.  The trial judge did make reductions from plaintiff’s request, with the argument that such a reduction supported a complete denial or further reductions ignoring the abuse of discretion standard relating to the amount of fee awards.  Justice Goethals authored the 3-0 opinion.