Image 2000 Multimedia, Inc. v. Quin
Yvonne T. Quin, trustee of the Joseph Quin Family Trust (Landlord), appeals an order denying, in part, her request for attorney fees as prevailing party under a lease containing an attorney fees provision. Quin, in her capacity as trustee, served as the landlord under the lease. Image 2000 Multimedia, Inc. and El Cajon Grand Cocktail Lounge (together Lessees) were the lessees under the lease.[1] Landlord contends the superior court abused its discretion by failing to engage in a proper lodestar analysis in determining the amount of reasonable fees to award Landlord's previous trial counsel, Slater & Truxaw LLP (Slater).
Landlord, however, minimizes the unique procedural history of this litigation in making her arguments. When this matter first proceeded to trial, Lessees prevailed and were entitled to their attorney fees. The matter involved two issues: whether an option under the lease was exercised and possession of the leased premises. In their motion for attorney fees, Lessees asked for $126,854.87. In opposing Lessees' motion, Landlord characterized Lessees' motion as an example of "the legal profession at its worst" because Lessees' attorneys requested such an "astounding amount." She expressed outrage at the "profiteering, abuse, and sheer audacity set forth in the billings of" Lessees' attorneys and described the subject billings as "shocking and disgusting." In the end, Landlord argued that, at most, the superior court should award attorney fees in the amount of $27,045.15 because "[n]othing more is warranted or supportable" for a case comprising a one-day bench trial.
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