Hourly Rate Was Found To Be Reasonable.
In I.S. Investments, LLC v. Zamucen, Case No. G064105 (4th Dist., Div. 3 Aug. 11, 2025) (unpublished), plaintiff lost a case to prevailing defendants where there was a contractual fees clause in favor of the defense. Defendants moved for fees of $187,608 based on an hourly rate of $600, with the lower court awarding a reduced amount of $168,584.25 based on a $575 hourly rate. Plaintiff’s appeal for a reduction didn’t succeed, given that the amount of a fee award is reviewed under the deferential abuse of discretion standard. Notwithstanding that defense counsel billed clients at a lower hourly rate, that rate was not dispositive such that the lodestar rate could be set at a higher amount. (Pasternack v. McCullough, 65 Cal.App.5th 1050, 1055-1056 (2021) [fee arrangement does not limit market rate applicable under a lodestar analysis].)