Gregory Holt, et al. v. Dexter Payne, et al.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF DIVISION GREGORY HOLT, et al. PLAINTIFFS v. CASE NO. 5:19-CV-00081-BSM DEXTER PAYNE, et al. DEFENDANTS ORDER Plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees and costs as to CAIR Legal Defense Fund [Doc.

No. 235] is granted in part and denied in part. Plaintiffs’ motion for $11,586.18 in costs is granted because it is reasonable. Plaintiffs’ motion for $205,511.25 in attorneys’ fees is denied because it is unreasonable; however, a fee of $70,650.95 is reasonable and is hereby awarded.

Defendants are correct that plaintiffs’ $205,511.25 fee request is unreasonable. This is true for five reasons. First, the maximum amount plaintiffs may recover is limited to $181,802.10 by the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(d)(3). Second, plaintiffs’ fee request for preparing an unsuccessful motion for summary judgment is excessive and duplicative. Third, plaintiffs achieved limited success. See Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 436 (1983) (if plaintiff has achieved only partial or limited success, fee awards for all hours expended in litigation may be excessive). Fourth, 10% is reduced for block billing and vague entries. Finally, plaintiffs withdraw their October 3, 2019 entry seeking fees for 30 hours of work, bringing the total to $70,650.95. See Plf.s’ Reply at 4, Doc. No. 247.

Accordingly, CAIR is awarded $70,650.95 in attorneys’ fees and $11,586.18 in costs.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 19th day of December, 2025.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE