Schwartz v. DEA, No. 13-5004, 2019 WL 1299660 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 20, 2019) (Amon, J.)

Schwartz v. DEA, No. 13-5004, 2019 WL 1299660 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 20, 2019) (Amon, J.)

Re:  Request for records concerning May 2012 raid in Ahuas, Honduras

Disposition:  Granting plaintiff's motion for attorney fees and costs; awarding plaintiff $546,903.86 in attorneys' fees and $10,430.52 in costs

• Attorney Fees:  "The Court has reviewed the R&R and, [noting that neither of the parties objected and] finding no clear error, adopts the R&R with one caveat."  "The adoption of the R&R should not be construed as an endorsement of a $200 per hour rate for work performed by summer associates, but only as a conclusion that the bottom line recommendation is reasonable."  The Magistrate Judge previously found that "'[DEA's] disclosures did in fact result from this suit rather than 'delayed administrative processing[,]'" and, "[t]herefore, Plaintiff has substantially prevailed in his document request and is eligible to receive costs and attorney's fees for work performed with respect to the requested documents."  The Magistrate Judge also previously found that plaintiff was entitled to attorney fees because all four entitlement factors weighed in plaintiff's favor.