Judge: H. Jay Ford, III, Case: 20SMCV01829, Date: 2025-04-04 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20SMCV01829    Hearing Date: April 4, 2025    Dept: O

  Case Name:  Batal, et al. v. Pacific Investment Co., L.P., et al.

SUBJECT:                 MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES

MOVING PARTY:   Defendant Lowell Cauffiel

RESP. PARTY:         No opposition filed.  Notice of Bankruptcy Stay filed by Defendant Ziad Batal on March 26, 2025 reflecting a bankruptcy petition filed by Ziad Batal on March 15, 2025.

TENTATIVE RULING

            Defendant Lowell Cauffiel’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs in the amount of $236,458.55 is GRANTED. The Court notes that Plaintiffs Ziad Batal and Zade Batal have not filed an opposition. Defendant is the undisputed prevailing party in the action for retaliatory eviction brought by the Batal Plaintiffs. Defendant requests attorneys’ fees in the amount of $206,243.00 (67.3 hrs. @ $590/hr. + 284.2 hrs. @ $500/hr. + 60.6 hrs. @ $310/hr. + 31 hrs. @ $150/hr. + 20 hrs. @ 50/hr.) and costs in the amount of $30,215.55 totaling $236,458.55. (See Armenak Kavcioglu Decl., ¶ 2; Aren Kavcioglu Decl., ¶¶ 7–12, Ex. 8–10; 10-31-24 Memorandum of Costs.) The Court finds the requested fees and costs to be reasonable. The Court orders Plaintiffs Ziad Batal and Zade Batal to pay Defendant’s attorneys’ fees and costs jointly and severally in the amount of $236,458.55.

The entry of this order against Ziad Batal only is stayed pending Plaintiff obtaining relief from the bankruptcy stay as to Ziad Batal.  Plaintiff is to submit the proposed order.