Eugene R. Wedoff United States Bankruptcy Judge
Chapter 11
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION OF KRIEG DEVAULT, SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR DEBTORS, FOR ALLOWANCE OF INTERIM COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES
TOTAL FEES REQUESTED: $19300.50
TOTAL FEES REDUCED: $3,271.00
TOTAL FEES ALLOWED: $16,029.50
TOTAL COSTS REQUESTED: $69.22
TOTAL COSTS REDUCED: $0.00
TOTAL COSTS ALLOWED: $69.22
TOTAL FEES AND COSTS ALLOWED: $16,098.72
The attached time and expense entries have been underlined to reflect disallowance in whole or in part. The basis for each disallowance is reflected by numerical notations that appear on the left of each underlined entry. The numerical notations correspond to the enumerated paragraphs below.
(2) Unreasonable Time
The Court denies the allowance in part of compensation for the following task since the professional or paraprofessional expended an unreasonable amount of time on this task in light of the nature of the task, the experience and knowledge of the professional performing the task, and the amount of time previously expended by the professional or another on the task. In re Pettibone, 74 B.R. 293, 306 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1987) ("The Court will determine what is the reasonable amount of time an attorney should have to spend on a given project... An attorney should not be rewarded for inefficiency. Similarly, attorneys will not be fully compensated for spending an unreasonable number of hours on activities of little benefit to the estate."); In re Wildman, 72 B.R. 700, 713 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1987) (same).
As to the time devoted to the preparation of the fee application itself, the Court denies the allowance of compensation that is disproportionate to the total hours in the main case. In re Wildman, 72 B.R. 700, 711 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1987) ("In the absence of unusual circumstances, the hours allowed by this Court for preparing and litigating the attorney fee application should not exceed three percent of the total hours in the main case."); In re Spanjer Bros., Inc., 203 B.R. 85, 93 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1996) (compensation limited to 5%). See also In re Pettibone Corp., 74 B.R. 293, 304 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1987) (citing Coulter v. State of Tennessee, 805 F.2d 146, 151 (6th Cir. 1986) (in non-bankruptcy cases, compensation for preparation and litigation of fee petitions limited to 3-5% of the hours of the main case)). Dated: August 5, 2014
/s/_________
Eugene R. Wedoff
United States Bankruptcy Judge FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH April 30, 2014
| 04/09/14 |
CDM |
Attend hearing on Krieg DeVault LLP's First Interim Fee Application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A109 |
0.30 |
495.00 /hr |
148.50 |
| 04/09/14 |
CDM |
Review of issues regarding preparation of Second Interim Fee Application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
495.00 /hr |
99.00 |
| 04/09/14 |
RJW |
Attend court for hearing on the petition (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A109 |
0.40 |
475.00 /hr |
190.00 |
| 04/09/14 |
RJW |
Conference with D. Motsinger regarding current invoices and second interim fee petition (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.30 |
475.00 /hr |
142.50 |
| Total Fees for this Matter: 1.20 |
$ 580.00 |
| CDM |
Motsinger, C. Daniel |
0.50 hrs |
495.00 /hr |
247.50 |
| RJW |
Wild, Robert J. |
0.70 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
332.50 |
| Total: 1.20 hrs |
$ 580.00 |
FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH July 11, 2014
| 07/03/14 |
CDM |
Review of issues regarding preparation of second interim fee application (1.0); |
| | | B160
A104 |
1.00 |
495.00 /hr |
495.00 |
| 07/03/14 |
KDV |
Strategized regarding preparation of 2nd interim fee application. |
| | | B410
A113 |
0.10 |
270.00 /hr |
27.00 |
| 07/03/14 |
MRL |
Review of issues related to fee application to be filed on July 11. |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
475.00 /hr |
95.00 |
| 07/03/14 |
RJW |
Conference with D. Motsinger regarding fee application; review and respond to emails regarding preparation of application. |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.40 |
475.00 /hr |
190.00 |
| 07/07/14 |
CDM |
Review of issues regarding preparation of second interim fee application (.2); |
| | | Bl60
A104 |
0.20 |
495.00 /hr |
99.00 |
| 07/07/14 |
MRL |
Review of issues related to upcoming fee application (one third of total time spent). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
475.00 /hr |
95.00 |
| 07/08/14 |
KDV |
[Sacred Heart] Continued drafting application for fees, notice of application and notice of hearing. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.20 |
270.00 /hr |
54.00 |
| 07/08/14 |
RJW |
Review and respond to internal emails regarding fee application. |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.40 |
475.00 /.hr |
190.00 |
| 07/09/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.20 |
270.00 /hr |
54.00 |
| 07/09/14 |
MRL |
Review of invoices to be included in July 11 fee application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.10 |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| 07/09/14 |
RJW |
Fee petition - conference with M. Lehman and K. Baird to discuss outstanding invoices (one-third of total time). |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.10 |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| 07/10/14 |
KDV |
Continued working On fee application including parsing through invoices to ensure correct invoices are included within fee application. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.10 |
270.00 /hr |
27.00 |
| 07/11/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B160
A103 |
1.30 |
270.00 /hr |
351.00 |
| Total Fees for this Matter: 4.50 |
$ 1,772.00 |
| KDV |
Baird, Kay Dee |
1.90 hrs |
270.00 /hr |
513.00 |
| MRL |
Lehman, Martha R. |
0.50 hrs |
475.00 hr |
237.50 |
| CDM |
Motsinger, C. Daniel |
1.20 hrs |
495.00 /hr |
594.00 |
| RJW |
Wild, Robert J. |
0.90 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
427.50 |
| Total: 4.50 hrs |
$ 1,772.00 |
| TOTAL FEES: |
$ 1,772.00 |
| TOTAL CHARGES FOR THIS BILL: |
$ 1,772.00 |
This invoice is clue upon receipt.
Please make checks payable to Krieg DeVault LLP and reference the invoice number.
FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH April 30, 2014
| 04/09/14 |
CDM |
Attend hearing on Krieg DeVault LLP's First Interim Fee Application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A109 |
0.30 |
495.00 /hr |
148.50 |
| 04/09/14 |
CDM |
Review of issues regarding preparation of Second Interim Fee Application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
495.00 /hr |
99.00 |
| 04/09/14 |
RJW |
Attend court for hearing on the petition (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A109 |
0.40 |
475.00 /hr |
190.00 |
| 04/09/14 |
RJW |
Conference with D. Motsinger regarding current invoices and second interim fee petition (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.30 |
475.00 /hr |
142.50 |
| Total Fees for this Matter: 1.20 |
$ 580.00 |
| CDM |
Motsinger, C. Daniel |
0.50 hrs |
495.00 /hr |
247.50 |
| RJW |
Wild, Robert J. |
0.70 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
332.50 |
| Total: 1.20 hrs |
$ 580.00 |
FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH July 11, 2014
| 07/07/14 |
MRL |
Review of issue related to fee application to be submitted on July 11 (one third of total time spent). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
475.00 /hr |
95.00 |
| 07/08/14 |
KDV |
[Sacred Heart] Continued drafting application for fees, notice of application and notice of hearing. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.20 |
270.00 /hr |
54.00 |
| 07/09/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.20 |
270.00 /hr |
54.00 |
| 07/09/14 |
MRL |
Review of invoices to be included in July 11 fee application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.10 |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| 07/09/14 |
RJW |
Fee petition - conference with M. Lehman and K. Baird to discuss outstanding invoices (one-third of total time). |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.10 |
475.00/hr |
47.50 |
| 07/10/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application including parsing through invoices to ensure correct invoices are included within fee application. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.10 |
270.00 /hr |
27.00 |
| 07/11/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B160
A103 |
1.30 |
270.00 /hr |
351.00 |
| Total Fees for this Matter: 2.20 |
$ 676.00 |
| KDV |
Baird, Kay Dee |
1.80 hrs |
270.00 /hr |
486.00 |
| MRL |
Lehman, Martha R, |
0.30 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
142.50 |
| RJW |
Wild, Robert J. |
0.10 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| Total: 2.20 hrs |
$ 676.00 |
| TOTAL FEES: |
$ 676.00 |
| TOTAL CHARGES FOR THIS BILL: |
$ 676.00 |
This invoice is due upon, receipt.
Please make checks payable to Krieg DeVault LLP and reference the invoice number.
FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH April 30, 201.4
| 04709/14 |
CDM |
Attend hearing on Krieg DeVault LLP's First Interim Fee Application (one-third of total time). |
| | | B160
A109 |
0.30 |
495.00 /hr |
148.50 |
| 04/09/14 |
CDM |
Review of issues regarding preparation of Second Interim Fee Application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
495.00 /hr |
99.00 |
| 04/09/14 |
RJW |
Attend court for hearing on the petition (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A109 |
0.40 |
475.00 /hr |
190.00 |
| 04/09/14 |
RJW |
Conference with D. Motsinger regarding current invoices and second interim fee petition (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.30 |
475.00 /hr |
142.50 |
| Total Fees for this Matter: 1.20 |
$ 580.00 |
| CDM |
Motsinger, C. Daniel |
0.50 hrs |
495.00 /hr |
247.50 |
| RJW |
Wild, Robert J. |
0.70 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
332.50 |
| Total: 1.20 hrs |
$ 580.00 |
FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH July 11, 2014
| 07/07/14 |
MRL |
Review of issues related to fee application to be submitted on July 11 (one third of total time spent). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0.20 |
475.00 /hr |
95.00 |
| 07/08/14 |
KDV |
[Sacred Heart] Continued drafting application for fees, notice of application and notice of hearing. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.30 |
270.00 /hr |
81.00 |
| 07/09/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.10 |
270.00 /hr |
27.00 |
| 07/09/14 |
MRL |
Review of invoices to be included in July 11 fee application (one third of total time). |
| | | B160
A104 |
0,10 |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| 07/09/14 |
RJW |
Fee petition - conference with M. Lehman and K. Baird to discuss outstanding invoices (one-third of total time). |
| | | B160
A105 |
0.10 |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| 07/10/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B410
A103 |
0.10 |
270.00 /hr |
27.00 |
| 07/11/14 |
KDV |
Continued working on fee application. |
| | | B160
A103 |
1.30 |
270.00 /hr |
351.00 |
| Total Fees for this Matter: 2.20 |
$676.00 |
| KDV |
Baird, Kay Dee |
1.80 hrs |
270.00 /hr |
486.00 |
| MRL |
Lehman, Martha R. |
0.30 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
142.50 |
| RJW |
Wild, Robert J. |
0.10 hrs |
475.00 /hr |
47.50 |
| Total: 2.20 hrs |
$ 676.00 |
| TOTAL FEES: |
$ 676.00 |
| TOTAL CHARGES FOR THIS BILL: |
$ 676.00 |
This invoice is due upon receipt.
Please make checks payable to Krieg DeVault LLP and reference the invoice number.