C&D Contractors, Inc. v. McLaughlin, Jr. ( 2023 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
C&D CONTRACTORS, INC. )
)
Employer-Below/Appellant )
Cross-Appellee, ) C.A. No.: N22A-04-002 FJJ
)
) CITATION ON APPEAL
v. ) FROM THE DECISION OF
) THE INDUSTRIAL
WILLIAM McLAUGHLIN, JR., ) ACCIDENT BOARD OF THE
) STATE OF DELAWARE
Claimant-Below/Appellee ) NEW CASTLE COUNTY,
Cross-Appellant. ) HEARING NO. 1478363
Submitted: January 27, 2023
Decided: February 3, 3023
OPINION AND ORDER
Upon Consideration of Claimant’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
GRANTED, in part, and DENIED, in part.
David Crumplar, Esquire, of JACOBS & CRUMPLAR, PA, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney
for William McLaughlin, Jr.
Linda Wilson, Esquire, of MARSHALL, DENNEHEY, WARNER, COLEMAN & GOGGIN, PC,
Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for C&D Contractors.
Jones, J.
INTRODUCTION
Before the Court is a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and a Motion for Costs pursuant
to 19 Del. C. § 2350(f), filed by counsel for the Estate of William McLaughlin (the
“Estate”). Section 2350(f) provides that where a worker’s compensation claimant
successfully appeals a position taken before the Industrial Accident Board (the
“Board” or the “IAB”), a reasonable attorney’s fee may be allowed for the time
spent on the appeal. This fee, if allowed, is taxed against the employer without
depleting the claimant’s award. The Estate’s Motion is opposed by C&D
Contractors (“C&D”), the employer and appellant below. For the reasons that
follow, the Estate’s Motion will be GRANTED, in part, and DENIED, in part.
FACTUAL OVERVIEW
This opinion assumes familiarity with the case and includes only those facts
necessary to the Court’s analysis. For a more comprehensive factual recitation, the
Court directs readers to its previous Opinion affirming, in part, and reversing, in
part, the Board’s initial order.1
Before the Board, the Estate contended the triggering event for calculating death
benefits in the asbestos context was the date of Mr. McLaughlin’s mesothelioma
diagnosis. C&D, on the other hand, argued the date of Mr. McLaughlin’s last
exposure to asbestos should serve as the triggering event. Ultimately, the Board
agreed with the Estate and found the date of diagnosis to be the triggering event for
1
McLaughlin v. C&D Contractors, 2022 WL 17683750 (Del. Super. Dec. 14, 2022).
2
the average weekly wage calculation. But, the Board sided with C&D in regards to
the average weekly rate calculation and used the rate in effect at the time of Mr.
McLaughlin’s last asbestos exposure in 1989.
Thereafter, both sides appealed the Board’s findings to this Court. The Estate
challenged the Board’s holding as to the average weekly wage calculation; C&D,
on the other hand, took issue with the weekly rate the Board subjected to its analysis.
By opinion dated December 14, 2022, the Court partially affirmed and partially
reversed the Board’s decision, finding the date of mesothelioma diagnosis to control
the calculation of both the weekly wage and weekly rate. To the extent there is any
doubt, this means the Estate’s position was affirmed on appeal.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Section 2350(f) gives the Court discretion to award a “reasonable fee to [the]
claimant’s attorney for services on an appeal from the [IAB] to the Superior Court
… where the claimant’s position in the hearing before the [IAB] is affirmed on
appeal.”2 These awards are based on a “twofold inquiry.”3 First, a claimant’s
eligibility for attorneys’ fees depends on the Court finding the claimant’s position
before the IAB was affirmed on appeal.4 Second, if the claimant’s position was
affirmed on appeal, then the Court must determine what fee is reasonable.5
2
19 Del. C. § 2350(f).
3
Weddle v. BP Amoco Chemical Co., 2020 WL 5049233, at *2 (Del. Super. Aug. 26, 2020).
4
Id. As discussed above, the Court so finds.
5
Id.3
ANALYSIS
Because the Board’s only task on remand will be to enforce the Court’s order,
the Court is satisfied the Estate’s Motions for Fees and Costs are not premature.6
And, as mentioned above, it is undisputed that the Estate’s position before the Board
was affirmed on appeal. Thus, the Court must turn to what fees, if any, are
reasonable under § 2350(f).
A. The Paralegal Fees
Preliminarily, the Court will address C&D’s contention that paralegal fees are
unrecoverable under § 2350(f), which broadly provides, in relevant part, for
recovery of “a reasonable fee to the claimant’s attorney for services.”7 Upon careful
review, the Court disagrees.
First, had the General Assembly intended for “services” to merely mean
attorneys’ fees, it easily could have said so.8 But, presumably by design, it did not.
And, more importantly, a far-reaching interpretation of “services” achieves the
General Assembly’s purpose of reducing requested fees, as it encourages attorneys
to pass work to a person with a lower billable rate while assuring recovery of the
fees under § 2350(f).9
6
See Chandler v. Pinnacle Foods, 2010 WL 3447551, at *1 (Del. Super. Aug. 23, 2010) (deferring award of attorneys’
fees until the Board determined if the claimant “[would] actually be awarded anything by the Board on her claim [on
remand].” Id.7
19 Del. C. § 2350(f) (emphasis added).
8
Of course, attorneys’ fees, by definition, do not include paralegal fees.
9
See P.J.M. v. F.M., 1998 WL 59843, at *4 (Del. Super. June 9, 1988) (finding the phrase “all or part of the costs of
the other party of maintaining or defending” broad enough to include fees incurred by a legal assistant or paralegal).
4
In short, because the word “services” is broad enough to include paralegal fees,
and this interpretation will ultimately reduce the fees requested under statute, the
Court will award the fees accordingly.
B. The “Reasonable” Fees
In determining a reasonable amount of attorneys’ fees, the factors set forth in the
Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct10 and the Delaware Supreme
Court’s holding in General Motors Corp. v. Cox11 serve as a guide. These factors
include:
1) The time and labor required; the novelty and difficulty of the
question involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal
service properly; 2) the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that
the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other
employment by the lawyer; 3) the fees customarily charged in the
locality for similar legal services; 4) the amount involved and the
results obtained; 5) the time limitations imposed by the client or
by the circumstances; 6) the nature and length of the professional
relationship with the client; 7) the experience, reputation, and
ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and 8)
whether the fee is fixed or contingent.12
The Estate’s application seeks $34,502 for 103.4 hours of work performed by two
lawyers and one paralegal, all of whom charge different rates based on experience,
as follows: Thomas Crumplar, Esquire, 18.5 hours of work at $675 per hour; David
Crumplar, Esquire, 65 hours of work at $300 per hour; and paralegal Paula
Ainsworth, 19.9 hours of work at $125 per hour.
10
DEL. LAWYERS RULES OF PROF’L CONDUCT 1.5(A) (2003).
11
304 A.2d 55 (Del. 1973).
12
Id. at 57.
5
The Court understands this appeal involved a novel issue, and, therefore,
required considerable time, labor, and skill. The Court also acknowledges the hours
billed by each person on the Estate’s legal team is commensurate with that
individual’s skill, and that the time spent helped to produce a favorable outcome for
the Estate. Accordingly, the Court is comfortable with the hours worked by each
member of the Estate’s counsel.
Next, the Court turns to the appropriate hourly rate. Roughly two years ago, this
Court had occasion to address the hourly rate of the Estate’s counsel in Weddle v.
BP Amoco Chemical Company.13 There, the Weddle Court approved reduced rates
for Thomas Crumplar at $450 per hour, David Crumplar at $200 per hour, and a
paralegal at $50 per hour.14
In light of Weddle and the relevant Cox factors, the Court will adjust the rates
requested to fashion a reasonable attorneys’ fees award. As noted, the underlying
appeal involved a novel issue and, consequently, required considerable time and
labor. So, the first Cox factor favors the Estate’s application.
Additionally, the fourth Cox factor favors the Estate’s counsel because the legal
team obtained a favorable result for the Estate. And, given Thomas Crumplar’s
significant experience with workers’ compensation cases, the seventh factor favors
the Estate, as well.
13
2020 WL 5049233, at *3.
14
Id. at *4.
6
The third factor, however, weighs against the Estate’s requested rates. It bears
mention that the Estate’s counsel has failed to demonstrate the rates it charged are
consistent with those customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services.
As Weddle noted, “recent decisions of this Court addressing applications for
attorneys’ fees under § 2350(f) suggest [] the customary rates for the legal services
provided here are considerably lower than the rates requested, even when the
claimant’s lawyer has significant experience.”15
In consideration of the above, the Court shall award attorney’s fees based on the
following adjusted rates, which the Court finds are reasonable:16
• Thomas Crumplar: $500 per hour;
• David Crumplar: $250 per hour; and
• Paula Ainsworth: $100 per hour.
And because the Court is satisfied with the amount of hours requested by
Claimant’s counsel, it will award attorneys’ fees as follows:
Hours Rate Total
Thomas 18.5 $500 $9,250.00
Crumplar
David 65 $250 $16,250.00
Crumplar
Paula 19.9 $100 $1,990.00
Ainsworth
Total: $27,490.00
15
Id.
16
In light of the rise in inflation rates and passage of time since Weddle was issued, the Court has adjusted the
attorneys’ fee rate from the Weddle rates.
7
C. The Estate’s Request for Costs
Finally, the Estate seeks moves for costs in the amount of $221.25. C&D, in
response, correctly points out that § 2350(f) does not cover costs. Nevertheless, 10
Del. C. § 5101 does. As such, the Court will award the requested costs, in full,
under § 5101.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Estate’s application for attorneys’ fees is
GRANTED, in part, and DENIED, in part. The Estate is awarded $27,490.00 in
attorneys’ fees and $221.25 in costs.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Francis J. Jones, Jr.
Francis J. Jones, Jr., Judge
/jb
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8