CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW
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Attorney Fees
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Amount
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Factors Considered
............Reasonable Value of Services
11 Cards On This Topic:
Severe reduction in atty fees justified where atty leavened fee request with noncompensable hours and vague, indecipherable billing statements, destroying its credibility.
Attorney must establish that requested award is reasonable value of services rendered.
Reasonable value of services need not bear direct relationship to number of hours expended.
Trial court abused its discretion in awarding attorney fees and costs without considering Fam. Code §2030 (a) ability to pay and reasonableness factors.
Attorney need not file declaration supporting fee request as evidence of reasonable value of services is necessarily before the court.
Trial judge may determine attorney fee award based upon own experience and observations in court.
Reasonable value of services need not bear a direct relationship to number of hours expended.
"No attorney should be paid a fee inconsistent with the work he has performed."
Court may rely on own experience and knowledge in determining reasonable value of services rendered.
W sought $25,000 in fees. Order of $7,500 affirmed. Court's opinion as to reasonable value of services not abuse of discretion.
Court must consider whether attorney's time was wisely devoted to resolution of case.