A Tennessee federal judge has granted $10 million in fees to attorneys representing consumers following a settlement to resolve multidistrict litigation stemming from a rodent infestation at a Family Dollar Stores Inc. warehouse, finding the fees reasonable for the work done on the case.
In an order filed Friday, U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman granted the unopposed motion for fees, finding that the plaintiffs had remedied the deficiencies in their prior bid for fees by including affidavits required under local court rules.
The settlement, which will give $25 gift cards to class members, was approved in May, but at the time Judge Lipman denied the bid for $10 million in attorney fees, saying the class attorneys hadn’t complied with local rules requiring that they submit an affidavit or declaration detailing the number of hours spent on each aspect of the case, as well as an affidavit or declaration from another attorney in the community who is not otherwise involved in the case to establish prevailing rates.
