Court Of Federal Claims

ATTORNEY FEES – The claims court found that $75,000 is a reasonable attorney fee award in 1996 dollars, the year the plaintiff’s case was tried. That amount reflects 624 hours, the total time for which counsel billed. However, because the plaintiff prevailed in showing that the government acted in bad faith and failed to show that the government owed him damages, the award should be reduced by 55 hours, which is the time counsel spent developing the damages theory. Paralegal hours should also be reduced proportionally.