Title Company Requested $1,851,575 Lodestar Request, Substantially Reduced By The Lower Court—Ultimate Award Was No Abuse Of Discretion.
In Meridian Financial Services, Inc. v. Phan, Case Nos. D078586/D078589 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Aug. 10, 2021) (published), Chicago Title won a summary judgment in a dispute where there was a prevailing party fees clause in lender’s escrow instructions signed by the main plaintiff. Title insurer moved for $1,851,575 in attorney’s fees as the lodestar request, with the lower court ultimately awarding only $943,250. Appellants’ challenge to the fee award was unsuccessful—after all, under Serrano, the lower court did substantially reduce the fee request, a viable option even if it did not expressly conclude the fee request was inflated in nature.