Author name: William M. (Mike) Hensley

Private Attorney General: Coalition Of City Employees/Union Were Entitled To CCP § 1021.5 Fees, Not Disclosed In Amount, Based On A Failure To Meaningfully Bargain Over A Labor Dispute—You Labor Attorneys Know The Importance Of This

Cases: Private Attorney General (CCP 1021.5)

Private Attorney General Elements Were Met, Under An Abuse Of Discretion Standard. Although we do not know the amount of the fees awarded in City of Los Angeles v. IBEW, Local 18, Case No. B336981 et al. (2d Dist., Div. 7 July 30, 2026) (unpublished), we can report that a CCP § 1021.5 private attorney

Landlord/Tenant, Mediation, Section 1717: $69,560 Fee Award To Tenant For Defensing An Unlawful Detainer Suit Based On A Defective Notice To Cure Or Quit Is Affirmed

Cases: Landlord/Tenant, Cases: Mediation, Cases: Section 1717

Mediation Noncompliance And Fee Cap Arguments Are Rejected On Appeal. In Karrass v. Carey, Case No. B344608 (2d Dist., Div. 8 July 30, 2026) (unpublished), tenant defensed a landlord in an unlawful detainer action based on an alleged notice to cure violations or quit, a notice found deficient.  Later, the trial court awarded tenant prevailing

Costs: Awardable Appeal Costs Are Specifically Listed, Not Incorporating A More General “Necessary/Reasonable To The Conduct Of The Litigation” Test Applicable To Trial Discretionary Routine Cost Awards

Cases: Costs

CRC, Rule 8.278 Is More Constricted In Scope Gigena v. Finch, Case No. C104947 (2d Dist. July 30, 2026) (unpublished) involved an appeal of appellate routine costs under CRC 8.278, with an in pro per litigant’s appellate costs request being significantly reduced at the trial court level.  The Third District affirmed, but in doing so

Intellectual Property: Over $600,000 Attorney’s Fees Award Against Defendant In A Lanham Act Case Is Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Intellectual Property

Plaintiff Won Nominal Damages Of $1 And Disgorgement, Although The Disgorgement Award Was Reversed As A Matter Of Law By The Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit in Multiple Energy Technologies, LLC v. Casden, No. 24-4691 (9th Cir. July 30, 2026) (published) considered over a $600,000 attorney’s fees award against a defendant in a Lanham Act

Judgment Enforcement, Paralegal Time: Post-Judgment Enforcement Fee Award Of $356,223 (Reduced From The Fee Request) Was Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Judgment Enforcement, Cases: Paralegal Time

Disbarred Attorney’s Work Effort Was Allowed, Although His Hourly Rate Was Reduced In Performing Paralegal Services. In Hope and Trust Trading, Inc. v. Ciling, Case No. B351756 (2d Dist., Div. 1 July 29, 2026) (unpublished), a post-judgment creditor was granted $356,223 in judgment enforcement fees, with a principal reduction for a disbarred attorney who performed

Fee Clause Interpretation, Partition, Section 1717: Denial Of 1717 Fees Reversed; Grant Of Partition Fees Reversed But Without Prejudice To Renew In The Future

Cases: Fee Clause Interpretation, Cases: Partition, Cases: Section 1717

Gives A Potential Litigant Over A Jointly Inherited House A Chance To Obtain Some Trial And Appellate Fees In The Future. Tran v. Tran, Case No. H052186 (6th Dist. July 28, 2026) (unpublished) involved a real dispute between two siblings jointly inheriting a house from their father.  As many cases devolve to, the main clash

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