Compensatory Award Was $709,555, With Counsel’s Skill And Multiplier Request Supporting The Fee Award Affirmed On Appeal.
The trial judge in Ramirez v. Bala, Case No. H049689 (6th Dist. June 30, 2025) (unpublished) awarded a FEHA plaintiff $1,385,546 in attorney’s fees and costs (about the full request, inclusive of a 1.5 multiplier) after plaintiff won a compensatory award of $709,555. The defense appeal of the fees/costs award was not successful. Although losing a retaliation claim, the winning claims were intertwined such that no reduction was in order. The $450 hourly rates claimed by plaintiff’s counsel in Monterrey County were reasonable given the lower court had seen requests in the $800-plus area. Finally, the litigation was hard fought such that the skill of plaintiff’s counsel justified the multiplier.