A federal judge in Pennsylvania awarded a prevailing attorney $263,356.25 in fees after a jury found two Philadelphia police officers liable for malicious prosecution claims, but the court reduced the total requested fees by nearly $50,000 for apparently erroneous filings.
In a July 25 opinion, U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania awarded the plaintiff Tzvia Wexler’s attorney Thomas Malone of the Malone Law Firm $263,356.25 in fees after a jury found officer Charmaine Hawkins and detective James Koenig were held liable for false arrest, malicious prosecution and retaliation. Hawkins was also liable for assault and battery and excessive force. Wexler subsequently filed for attorney fees and costs, requesting $313,835.22 in fees and $8,941.47 in costs and expenses, equating to $725 per hour for the attorney who has practiced nearly 30 years.
