Judge: Armen Tamzarian, Case: 23STCV16265, Date: 2024-03-01 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCV16265    Hearing Date: March 1, 2024    Dept: 52

Order to Show Cause Re: Default Judgment

Plaintiff Michael Kim requests court judgment by default against defendants Inheritance Transport, LLC and Edgar Olivarez.  Plaintiff is not entitled to all $46,468.87 he seeks. 

Plaintiff seeks excessive attorney fees of $10,491.50.  Attorney fees for a default judgment are generally limited to a specified schedule based on the amount of damages.  (Local Rules 3.207(a), 3.214(a).)  A plaintiff may recover “a fee greater than listed in the [default] schedule because of extraordinary services.”  (3.214(d).)  Plaintiff does not show extraordinary services justifying a fee greater than the schedule.  Under the fee schedule, plaintiff’s reasonable attorney fees are: $690 + 3% x ($35,977.37 - $10,000) = $1,469.32.  The court will reduce the judgment to include only $1,469.32 in attorney fees, resulting in a total judgment of $37,446.69.

Plaintiff’s request for default judgment is granted in part.  The court will modify plaintiff’s proposed judgment on form JUD-100 and will enter judgment.