How can a defendant determine if attorney's fees awarded are reasonable?

Full question:

After summary judgment has been given against the Defendant, and Motion to Award Attornerys Fees has been filed, does Defendant have the right to use Discovery and Subpoenas to verify Plaintiff's attorneys fees as to being reasonable?

Answer:

If the matter is further litigated, discovery measures could be used to prove unreasonableness of fees. An award of attorney's fees under an abuse of discretion standard. A court abuses its discretion only when it acts in a manner which exceeds the bounds of reason under the circumstances. The burden is placed upon the party who is attacking the trial court's ruling to establish an abuse of discretion, and the ultimate issue is whether the court could reasonably conclude as it did.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

If a motion to compel discovery is granted, the court orders the opposing party to provide the requested information or documents. Failure to comply can lead to sanctions, including fines or even dismissal of claims. Conversely, if the motion is denied, the requesting party may have to bear their own costs and could face challenges in proving their case without the needed evidence.