Edward Jones v. City of Los Angeles
Edward Jones v. City of Los Angeles
Opinion
MEMORANDUM ***
The City of Los Angeles appeals the district court’s order granting plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1988, and California Code of Civil Proce *767 dure § 1021.5. The district court concluded that plaintiffs are “the prevailing party” under both statutes, but failed to set forth any reasons underlying its conclusion. See Buckhannon Bd. & Care Home, Inc. v. W. Va. Dep’t of Health & Human Res., 532 U.S. 598, 605, 121 S.Ct. 1835, 149 L.Ed.2d 855 (2001). Nor did the district court explain how the award was calculated, ie., “what number of hours were being compensated and what hourly rate was applied.” Chalmers v. Los Angeles, 796 F.2d 1205, 1213 (9th Cir. 1986). Moreover, the order is internally inconsistent as to whether a multiplier was used, and it appears that some noncompensable hours may have been included.
Because the district court failed to provide a reasoned basis for its decision, we are unable to engage in a meaningful review of either the basis for the award or the award itself. 1 See Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 437-40, 103 S.Ct. 1933, 76 L.Ed.2d 40 (1983) (where meaningful appellate review is not possible, remand for a fuller explanation of the fee award is appropriate); Tutor-Saliba Corp. v. City of Hailey, 452 F.3d 1055, 1065 (9th Cir. 2006) (where there is no reasoning to support a fee award, “it is simply not possible for this court to review [the] award in a meaningful manner” (citation omitted)); Chalmers, 796 F.2d at 1213 (finding an order granting attorneys’ fees insufficient because it faded to provide “an adequate explanation of the reasons for [the] award and the manner in which that award was determined”). Therefore, we reverse the award of attorneys’ fees and remand for further proceedings consistent herewith.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.