RODNEY FREENEY VS. GUY J. CARNAZZA (L-5178-14, MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2019 )


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  •                                 NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
    APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
    This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
    internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
    SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
    APPELLATE DIVISION
    DOCKET NO. A-3233-17T2
    RODNEY FREENEY,
    Plaintiff-Respondent,
    v.
    GUY J. CARNAZZA,
    CINEMACAR LEASING, INC.
    and CINEMACAR II, INC.,
    Defendants-Appellants,
    and
    LAMBROS MOTITIS, KILLER
    CARZ, LLC and SAM SANKAR,
    Defendants.
    _____________________________
    Argued telephonically May 30, 2019 – Decided June 18, 2019
    Before Judges Hoffman and Geiger.
    On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
    Division, Middlesex County, Docket No. L-5178-14.
    Thomas A. Lodato argued the cause for appellants
    (Alampi & DeMarrais, attorneys; Thomas A. Lodato, on
    the briefs).
    Andrew R. Wolf argued the cause for respondent (The
    Wolf Law Firm, LLC, attorneys; Lisa R. Bouckenooghe,
    on the brief).
    PER CURIAM
    Appellants Guy J. Carnazza, Cinemacar Leasing, Inc. (Cinemacar Leasing),
    and Cinemacar II, Inc. (Cinemacar) appeal from a Law Division order awarding
    plaintiff Rodney Freeney attorney's fees and costs pursuant to N.J.S.A. 56:8-19, the
    fee-shifting section of the Consumer Fraud Act (CFA), N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 to -20. We
    affirm.
    I.
    In August 2012, plaintiff and his uncle travelled to defendant Killer Carz, LLC
    (Killer Carz) to inspect a 2006 Acura TL with an advertised sales price of $12,900.
    Plaintiff expressed interest in purchasing and financing the Acura. Plaintiff made a
    $500 down payment and signed a payment receipt. The sales representative also
    offered plaintiff a vehicle service contract, which plaintiff accepted. Plaintiff did
    not receive or sign any document at the sales lot, other than the down payment
    receipt. Plaintiff then completed a credit application and was denied. He was
    A-3233-17T2
    2
    referred to defendant Lambros Motitis, a representative of defendant Cinemacar to
    obtain financing for the purchase of the Acura.
    Upon plaintiff's arrival at Cinemacar, Motitis arranged the financing through
    an agreement whereby Capital One Auto Finance would accept assignment of a
    Retail Installment Sale Contract (RISC) between Cinemacar and plaintiff. Motitis
    prepared the RISC, the agreement was executed, and it was assigned to Capital One
    Auto Finance. A down payment of $3500 was agreed upon. Motitis provided
    plaintiff with a Bill of Sale that stated a sales price of $15,000; sales tax of $1190;
    "Doc Prep Fee" of $345; "Tag & Title Fee" of $250; and a "Svc Contract/Warranty"
    for $2000. The Bill of Sale stated the total price was $18,785, a down payment of
    $3500 had been paid, and a balance of $15,285 remained.
    The RISC prepared by Motitis listed the amount financed as $15,285; a
    finance charge of $4761.72; a down payment of $3500; and a total sale price
    (inclusive of down payment) of $23,546.72. The RISC itemized the financed
    $15,285 as follows: (1) the outstanding balance for the purchase of the vehicle of
    $12,690,1 plus (2) the total other charges paid to others on the plaintiff's behalf, in
    1
    $15,000 paid to Cinemacar, for the Acura at Killer Carz, plus $1190 in sales tax,
    for a total sale price of $16,190, minus the $3500 down payment, yielding an unpaid
    balance of $12,690.
    A-3233-17T2
    3
    the amount of $2595, comprised of the $2000 service contract fee to "AUL
    Administrators," $250 "Government Certificate of Title Fees," and a $345 "Doc Prep
    Fee" paid to Cinemacar II. The sales price reflected in the RISC was thus $2100
    greater than the $12,900 price stated in the Killer Carz advertisement.
    Plaintiff then returned to Killer Carz to pay the remainder of the down
    payment before travelling to Cinemacar. The next day, Cinemacar issued a 30-day
    temporary license plate for the Acura. The temporary tag displayed Cinemacar's
    dealer identification number, despite Killer Carz still holding title to the Acura.
    Plaintiff took possession of the Acura the same day.
    When plaintiff subsequently attempted to pick up his license plates and
    registration from Killer Carz, he was asked to pay $300 despite the RISC indicating
    $250 for official government title fees. As a result, he went to Cinemacar to collect
    his plates and registration.     Cinemacar paid $46.50 to the Motor Vehicle
    Commission (MVC) for plaintiff's registration, $85 to the MVC for plaintiff's title,
    and $5 to the MVC for plaintiff's temporary plates.2 The total cost of $136.50
    2
    The receipt from the MVC only indicates the registration and title fees, but at the
    time, the agency charged dealerships $5 for a temporary license plate issued to a
    New Jersey resident.
    A-3233-17T2
    4
    differed from $250 charge by $113.50. Plaintiff did not receive a refund. Neither
    the Bill of Sale nor the RISC itemized the $345 document preparation fee.
    The RISC was assigned to Capital One on September 5, 2012. Capital One
    paid $14,995 to Cinemacar Leasing3 for assignment of the RISC, and charged
    Cinemacar a $295 "Dealer Fee" in conjunction therewith. At this time, however,
    Cinemacar did not hold title to the vehicle.
    Plaintiff alleged Cinemacar obtained title through the following process.
    About a month after the purchase, Cinemacar submitted a "Reassignment of
    Certificate of Ownership by New Jersey Car Dealership" to the MVC, which stated
    Cinemacar purchased the Acura from Killer Carz the same day. Six days later,
    Cinemacar filed a "Reassignment of Certificate of Ownership by New Jersey Car
    Dealership" that stated Cinemacar sold the Acura to plaintiff on October 4, 2012.
    Plaintiff never received a valid service contract. He alleged defendants did
    not remit the funds necessary to purchase the service contract from a third-party for
    which plaintiff was charged $2000. In June 2013 the Acura developed transmission
    troubles and was towed. Plaintiff then learned he did not have a valid service
    contract and that Auto Service of America, Killer Carz's service contractor, and AUL
    3
    Plaintiff's amended complaint alleges Capital One paid Cinemacar Leasing, yet
    appellants argue Cinemacar Leasing was not involved in this transaction.
    A-3233-17T2
    5
    Administrators, the company listed on the RISC, did not have the Acura's Vehicle
    Identification Number in their systems, nor any processed paperwork. The Killer
    Carz sales representative who sold plaintiff the Acura claimed he did not process the
    service contract because plaintiff owed still $300.            Another Killer Carz
    representative informed plaintiff that Cinemacar was responsible for processing the
    service contract. Plaintiff paid for the transmission repairs out-of-pocket.
    Plaintiff retained counsel and filed suit against defendants.            The 135
    paragraph, four count amended complaint alleged numerous violations of the CFA;
    the Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty, and Notice Act, N.J.S.A. 56:12-15
    (TCCWNA); the Automotive Sales Practices Regulations (ASP Regulations),
    N.J.A.C. 13:45A-26B.1 to -26B.4; and the Motor Vehicle Advertising Practices
    Regulations (MVAP Regulations), N.J.A.C. 13:45A-26A.4(a)(1). Plaintiff alleged
    he suffered an ascertainable loss comprised of: (1) the $2100 difference between the
    advertised sale price and the final sale price; (2) the overcharge for the title and
    registration fees; (3) the unitemized $345 documentation preparation fee; (4) the
    $2000 charge for the service contract plaintiff never received; (5) the amount
    financed that plaintiff remains obligated to pay; (6) the damages caused by the
    knowingly false statements filed with the MVC; and (7) the out-of-pocket repair
    costs due to the lack of a service contract.
    A-3233-17T2
    6
    Plaintiff alleged defendants' fraudulent activity included: (1) fraudulently
    representing that Cinemacar was selling a vehicle to plaintiff and inducing him to
    obtain financing when Cinemacar did not hold title to that vehicle; (2) filing
    documents with the MVC that contained knowingly false statements, including
    inaccurate odometer readings and representations of sales that never took place,
    causing plaintiff's title to contain false and unreliable information thereby reducing
    the resale value of the vehicle; (3) charging plaintiff $2100 more than the advertised
    price in violation of the bait-and-switch prohibitions in the MVAP Regulations; (4)
    charging plaintiff $2000 for a service contract without providing any such coverage;
    (5) overcharging plaintiff for MVC fees and charging an unitemized documentary
    service fee in violation of the ASP Regulations; and (6) unlawfully allowing a
    business to use the licenses of another individual or business to sell vehicles and
    offer credit. Plaintiff sought joint and several liability against defendants for
    monetary relief, including treble damages available under the CFA, statutory and
    actual damages under the TCCWNA, declaratory and injunctive relief, and
    reasonable attorney's fees and costs as authorized by those statutes.
    Defendants Carnazza and Cinemacar filed an answer with defenses and cross-
    claimed for contribution and indemnity from the remaining co-defendants under
    common law and the Joint Tortfeasors Contribution Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-1 to -48,
    A-3233-17T2
    7
    and the Comparative Negligence Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:15-51 to -58. Killer Carz did not
    answer the complaint and plaintiff filed a request to enter default against them.
    On December 3, 2014, plaintiff sent a settlement offer, inclusive of attorney's
    fees and costs, to counsel for defendants Cinemacar and Carnazza. The offer was
    not accepted. Shortly thereafter, the court issued a Mediation Referral Order
    appointing a mediator.
    In early 2015, counsel for defendants Cinemacar and Carnazza relayed the
    existence of another necessary party to plaintiff's counsel. This led to plaintiff filing
    an amended complaint naming Sam Sankar, Motitis, and Cinemacar Leasing as
    additional defendants. Defendants Sankar and Motitis did not answer the amended
    complaint and plaintiff entered default against them.
    The parties engaged in substantial pretrial discovery.           Plaintiff served
    interrogatories, requests for production of documents and deposition notices on
    appellants, but did not receive timely responses. Killer Carz, Sankar, and Motitis
    (collectively, the Killer Carz defendants), requested plaintiff's consent to vacate
    default against the Killer Carz defendants. Plaintiff granted the request and served
    interrogatories and a document demand on each of the Killer Carz defendants.
    Plaintiff subsequently moved to extend discovery and compel depositions of
    appellants. On October 1, 2015, plaintiff withdrew his motion to compel depositions
    A-3233-17T2
    8
    and the court entered an order extending the discovery end date to January 11, 2016.
    On the same day, plaintiff sent counsel for all defendants a global settlement demand
    inclusive of attorney's fees and costs.
    On October 6, 2015, plaintiff moved to compel appellants to answer plaintiff's
    interrogatories and document demands, or in the alternative, to suppress their
    answers. The court entered an order compelling appellants to provide discovery
    responses by a date certain.
    Thereafter, the mediation conducted by the court-appointed mediator was
    unsuccessful. Plaintiff then moved to compel the Killer Carz defendants to answer
    interrogatories and provide documents, or in the alternative, to suppress their answer.
    The court entered an order suppressing the answer filed by the Killer Carz defendants
    without prejudice. At the same time, plaintiff served all defendants with requests
    for admissions.
    On December 22, 2015, plaintiff moved to suppress the appellants' answer for
    failing to abide by the prior order compelling discovery responses by a date certain.
    While the motion was pending, appellants served plaintiff with responses to
    discovery, an opposition to plaintiff's motion, and a motion to extend the discovery
    end date. Plaintiff subsequently withdrew the motion to suppress the answers of
    appellants. However, the Killer Carz defendants remained delinquent in answering
    A-3233-17T2
    9
    discovery. On February 2, 2016, the trial court granted plaintiff's motion to suppress
    the answer filed by the Killer Carz defendants with prejudice.
    Following several adjournments, trial was ultimately scheduled for May 16,
    2016. Leading up to trial, plaintiff discussed settlement with appellants several times
    without success. Moments before trial was to begin, plaintiff reached a settlement
    agreement as to damages with all defendants. The terms of the settlement were set
    forth in a handwritten agreement signed by all parties. The agreement provided:
    1) By no later than May 27, 2016 Defendants shall pay
    Rodney Freeney $6,000 via a check made payable to him
    and delivered to the Wolf Law Firm. If the payment is not
    received by May 27, 2016, Plaintiff shall be entitled to
    obtain an entry of judgment against Defendants in the sum
    of $13,500.
    2) After payment is received, Plaintiff will file a motion
    for an award of attorney's fees and costs. Defendants agree
    to pay the amount awarded by the Court, and Defendants
    shall not contest Plaintiff's counsel's entitlement to
    reasonable attorney's fees and costs but may contest the
    reasonableness of the time and rates.
    After the settlement was reached, plaintiff's joint counsel filed a fee
    application, which appellants opposed. The application stated The Wolf Law Firm
    expended a total of 90.9 hours billed at the rate of $310 to $710 per hour, yielding a
    lodestar (Time Spent x Hourly Rate) of $36,357.50. The firm incurred costs and
    expenses totaling $2359.69. Co-counsel Christopher J. McGinn expended 35.9
    A-3233-17T2
    10
    hours at an hourly rate of $460 for a total of $16,514. Plaintiff also sought a lodestar
    enhancement.
    Appellants did not object to plaintiff's entitlement to an award of reasonable
    attorney's fees and costs under the settlement agreement. Notably, appellants did
    not object to the hourly rates sought or the time entries claimed by plaintiff's counsel.
    Instead, appellants limited their opposition to reducing the fee award to an amount
    proportionate to the conduct attributable to them, which they claim was no more than
    "failing to itemize the motor vehicle fees charged to plaintiff." In that regard,
    appellants asserted they were not liable for the conduct alleged in counts three and
    four. They further claim they became involved only after plaintiff's initial credit
    application was denied. Appellant's opposing papers admit that the sale they
    "completed" "included a twelve month, twelve thousand mile service warranty"
    effective September 1, 2012.
    The trial court granted plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees and costs on June
    22, 2017. In its written opinion, the court framed the issue as "whether a prevailing
    plaintiff under a multi-defendant . . . settlement is entitled to all of its fees from a
    solvent settling party, under a theory of joint and several liability, or whether each
    defendant should bear the burden of costs for the claims against it." First, the judge
    analyzed whether the settlement agreement was an enforceable contract capable of
    A-3233-17T2
    11
    binding each settling defendant to all fees incurred. The court found the agreement
    did not expressly "ascribe to [any defendant] the joint liability asserted by plaintiff
    [nor the] several liability asserted by defendant." Accordingly, the court was
    "constrained to allocate costs based upon general principles of law." To that end,
    the court concluded, "the nexus between the fee award and the litigation is
    determined neither by the amount of recovery, nor the percentage of liability, but
    ought to reflect the costs of pursuing the claims against each and all defendants."
    The court stated it was "obvious . . . that defendant Killer Carz would likely have
    been solely responsible for counts three and four, and the trier of fact would have
    determined if either, neither, or both defendants were responsible for counts one and
    two." After noting the settlement agreement was silent as to allocation of liability
    or responsibility for payment of legal fees, the court determined the reasonable costs
    imposed under the statue by analyzing "the costs attendant to commencing and
    maintaining the litigation against each and every party." The court concluded:
    For those costs solely attributable to Killer Carz, they
    should be severally liable, and no costs should be imposed
    on [Cinemacar]. For those costs solely attributable to
    [Cinemacar], they should be severally liable, and no costs
    should be imposed on Killer Carz. An example of several
    liability would be for communications solely with one
    defendant, which would not have any direct relevance to,
    or impact on, the other parties to this litigation.
    A-3233-17T2
    12
    For those costs that cannot be fairly segregated to
    be attributable to either defendant solely, they shall be
    allocated to all defendants, and each party should therefore
    be jointly and severally liable for such costs. An example
    of such costs would be for the preparation and research of
    the complaint, and all costs of litigation and settlement.
    Although arguably [Cinemacar and Cinemacar Leasing]
    may have played no role in counts III and IV, the entire
    complaint had to be prepared, filed and litigated. Much
    like the duty to defend versus the duty to indemnify, to the
    extent that a party is alleged to have violated a fee-shifting
    statute, until such time as those allegations are dismissed
    against it, it would be jointly and severally liable for such
    costs as may be reasonably necessary to prosecute the
    claims asserted.
    With regard to the hourly rates sought, the trial court determined the rates
    charged were "within the upper limit of what the court finds reasonable." The court
    reasoned that, since the hourly rates charged were "well above median rates, the
    lodestar enhancement frequently used to compensate for risk of non-payment" was
    reflected in the rates charged. Thus, as there was no "significant issue of difficulty
    in the underlying litigation," the lodestar enhancement was denied.
    The order granted the following attorney's fees and costs: (1) $854.00 against
    defendants the Killer Carz defendants; (2) $1190.00 against defendants Carnazza,
    Cinemacar Leasing, and Cinemacar; and (3) $53,187.19 against all defendants
    jointly and severally.
    A-3233-17T2
    13
    This appeal followed. The Killer Carz defendants did not join in the appeal.
    Appellants concede plaintiff is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees and
    costs, but argue the attorney's fees awarded were disproportionate to the amount of
    the settlement and did not address the respective liability of the defendants.
    II.
    Our review of a trial court's fee award is limited. A.W. v. Mount Holly Twp.
    Bd. of Educ., 
    453 N.J. Super. 110
    , 118 (App. Div. 2018). "A reviewing court should
    not set aside an award of attorneys' fees except 'on the rarest occasions, and then
    only because of a clear abuse of discretion.'" Garmeaux v. DNV Concepts, Inc., 
    448 N.J. Super. 148
    , 155 (App. Div. 2016) (quoting Rendine v. Pantzer, 
    141 N.J. 292
    ,
    317 (1995)).    "An abuse of discretion in the award of counsel fees may be
    demonstrated 'if the discretionary act was not premised upon consideration of all
    relevant factors, was based upon consideration of irrelevant or inappropriate factors,
    or amounts to a clear error in judgment.'" Heyert v. Taddese, 
    431 N.J. Super. 388
    ,
    444 (App. Div. 2013) (quoting Masone v. Levine, 
    382 N.J. Super. 181
    , 193 (App.
    Div. 2005)).
    "The CFA is a remedial statute which encourages its use by, among other
    things, reasonably compensating those who prevail through fee shifting."
    Garmeaux, 448 N.J. Super. at 159 (citing Coleman v. Fiore Bros., Inc., 
    113 N.J. 594
    ,
    A-3233-17T2
    14
    598 (1989)). "[T]he CFA's fee-shifting provision advances the statute's policy of
    ensuring that plaintiffs with bona fide claims are able to find lawyers to represent
    them and encourages counsel to take on private cases involving an infringement of
    statutory rights." 
    Id.
     at 156 (citing Coleman, 
    113 N.J. at 598
    ). Prevailing CFA
    plaintiffs are entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees because of the "strong legislative
    policy in favor of fees both to make whole the victims of consumer fraud and to
    deter unconscionable practices." Coleman, 
    113 N.J. at
    599 n.1.
    "When fee shifting is permissible, a court must ascertain the 'lodestar'; that is,
    the 'number of hours reasonably expended by the successful party's counsel in the
    litigation, multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate.'" Garmeaux, 448 N.J. Super at 159
    (quoting Litton Indus., Inc. v. IMO Indus., Inc., 
    200 N.J. 372
    , 386 (2009)). First, the
    trial court "should evaluate the rate of the prevailing attorney in comparison to rates
    'for similar services by lawyers of reasonably comparable skill, experience, and
    reputation' in the community." Furst v. Einstein Moomjy, Inc., 
    182 N.J. 1
    , 22 (2004)
    (quoting Rendine, 
    141 N.J. at 337
    ). "Second, a trial court must determine whether
    the time expended in pursuit of the 'interests to be vindicated,' the 'underlying
    statutory objectives,' and recoverable damages is equivalent to the time 'competent
    counsel reasonably would have expended to achieve a comparable result. . . .'" 
    Ibid.
    (alteration in original) (quoting Rendine, 
    141 N.J. at 336
    ). If the trial court finds
    A-3233-17T2
    15
    "that the hours expended 'exceed those that competent counsel reasonably would
    have expended to achieve a comparable result, a trial court may exercise its
    discretion to exclude excessive hours from the lodestar calculation.'" Szczepanski
    v. Newcomb Med. Ctr., Inc., 
    141 N.J. 346
    , 367 (1995) (quoting Rendine, 
    141 N.J. at 336
    ). Third, the trial court should decrease the lodestar if the plaintiff achieved
    only limited success in relation to the relief sought. Furst, 182 N.J. at 23 (citing
    Rendine, 
    141 N.J. at 336
    ).
    "The trial court's responsibility to review carefully the lodestar fee request is
    heightened in cases in which the fee requested is disproportionate to the damages
    recovered."    Szczepanski, 
    141 N.J. at 366
    .           "However, there need not be
    proportionality between the damages recovered and the attorney-fee award itself."
    Furst, 182 N.J. at 23 (citing Rendine, 
    141 N.J. at 336
    ). When the fees sought are
    disproportionate to the damages recovered, "the trial court should evaluate not only
    the damages prospectively recoverable and actually recovered, but also the interest
    to be vindicated in the context of the statutory objectives, as well as any
    circumstances incidental to the litigation that directly or indirectly affected the extent
    of counsel's efforts." Szczepanski, 141 N.J. at 366-67.
    Appellants elected not to challenge the hourly rates sought by plaintiff's
    counsel. They also did not object to any specific hours expended or services
    A-3233-17T2
    16
    performed as being unnecessary, duplicative, or otherwise excessive. The party
    opposing a counsel fee application must identify specific areas of factual dispute in
    a contested fee application, rather than a generalized objection. Chattin v. Cape May
    Greene, Inc., 
    243 N.J. Super. 590
    , 615 n.8 (App. Div. 1990). Instead, appellants
    limit their argument to the disproportionality of the fee award to the amount of the
    settlement, and the claimed failure to apportion responsibility for the fees in accord
    with the respective responsibility of the parties.
    Our review of the record reveals that unlike in many instances, plaintiff did
    not achieve limited success in relation to the relief sought. None of plaintiff's claims
    were dismissed pretrial. Indeed, appellants did not move to dismiss any of plaintiff's
    claims. Moreover, the settlement reached did not allocate responsibility between
    appellants and the Killer Carz defendants.
    Our review further reveals that plaintiff's counsel did not engage in prolix or
    repetitious legal maneuvering, unnecessary discovery, or unsuccessful motion
    practice. On the contrary, some of the motion practice is directly attributable to
    appellants' failure to timely provide discovery. We further note appellants moved to
    extend discovery.
    Despite plaintiff's proposed settlement offers and participation in court-
    ordered mediation, defendants rejected those attempts to resolve the matter until the
    A-3233-17T2
    17
    morning of trial, when the settlement agreement was reached. This course of action
    required plaintiff to complete discovery and prepare for trial. In addition, this
    litigation served not only to vindicate plaintiff's rights under the CFA, but also to
    deter defendants and other used car dealers from engaging in deceptive sales
    practices and failing to provide service warranties required by the sales contract.
    In assessing appellants' argument that the fee award is disproportionate to the
    settlement amount, we are mindful the trial court declined to award a lodestar
    enhancement because of the hourly rates awarded. Ordinarily, the trial court "should
    consider whether to increase [the lodestar] fee to reflect the risk of nonpayment in
    all cases in which the attorney's compensation entirely or substantially is contingent
    on a successful outcome."       Rendine, 141 N.J. at 337.        Such "contingency
    enhancements in fee-shifting cases ordinarily should range between five and fifty-
    percent of the lodestar fee, with the enhancement in typical contingency cases
    ranging between twenty and thirty-five percent of the lodestar." Id. at 343. The trial
    court noted the hourly rates claimed were at the upper end of reasonableness and
    counterbalanced that observation by declining to award the lodestar enhancement.
    We find no merit in appellants' argument that the trial court erred by not
    allocating the fee award in relation to the respective liability of the defendants.
    Cogar v. Monmouth Toyota, 
    331 N.J. Super. 197
    , 211 (App. Div. 2000). Plaintiff's
    A-3233-17T2
    18
    damage claims were settled as to all defendants without allocation of fault. The
    "denial of fee apportionment" is "faithful to the legislative intent under the fee-
    shifting provision of the CFA to 'encourage attorneys to take small claims in order
    to serve the important public policy behind the statue.'" Grubbs v. Knoll, 
    376 N.J. Super. 420
    , 446 (App. Div. 2005) (quoting Cogar, 
    331 N.J. Super. at 211
    ). The
    imposition of "a limitation on the amount of fees recoverable based on allocation
    would dilute the significant policy underpinnings of the fee provision of the
    legislation.'" 
    Ibid.
     (quoting Cogar, 
    331 N.J. Super. at 211
    ).
    Appellants claim their role in the sales scheme was limited, and they are not
    liable for the claims asserted in counts three and four of the amended complaint. It
    is clear, however, that they were the seller of the vehicle according to the MVC
    documents. The RISC that they prepared included provision of the service warranty.
    Moreover, even if we accepted appellants' argument their role in the underlying
    transaction was limited as compared to the Killer Carz defendants, we concur with
    the trial court's finding that, with few exceptions, the services rendered by plaintiff's
    counsel were necessary to pursue "the 'interests to be vindicated,' the 'underlying
    statutory objectives,' and recoverable damages." Furst, 182 N.J. at 22 (quoting
    Rendine, 
    141 N.J. at 335-36
    ).
    A-3233-17T2
    19
    In sum, the trial court properly considered the claims made, the results
    obtained, the time records submitted by counsel, and the relevant factors in reaching
    its decision. We find no clear abuse of discretion or error in judgment by the trial
    court. Accordingly, we discern no basis to disturb the trial court's ruling.
    Affirmed.
    A-3233-17T2
    20