A Denver’s federal judge has granted Aecom $ 14.2 million in legal testimonial witnesses and experts on his successful lawsuit against the contract against the FlatIRON contractor. The two companies had been design teammates that added lanes open by 2020 to the E-470 Toll road in the city.
The prizes, in two separate orders, reached $ 8.3 million in lawyers’ costs and $ 5.9 million for expert testimonies and other costs. Orders represent one of the final chapters in a expensive five -year struggle between the two companies that involved whole teams of expert lawyers and testimonies that testified on complex terms of contracts, care standards and technical aspects of the work.
Following an 18 -day trial completed in February 2024, a jury granted Aecom $ 5.26 million for his claim against the Flatiron contractor, which involved unpaid design work. The juries rejected the claim of $ 263.5 million from Flatiron to exceed the costs and delays blamed the design of the “Botched” offers of AECOM in the added lanes.
Both cost orders of his demand, Judge William J. Martínez cites a clause in the subcontract executed by the contractor FlatIRON and AECOM. The clause said that the part of claims must pay for the expenses of its opponent if the plaintiff prevails “less than half of the claims it makes, including the reasonable fees of lawyers”.
FlatIRON lost two of his three individual demand claims against Aecom.
When it came to two orders, Martinez trusted written and statements, as well as his familiarity with the case. FlatIRON’s legal team had requested an evident audience, but Martinez said no.
Aecom, the Los Angeles design giant, achieved the majority, but not everything he had asked. Had initially sought 16 million dollars In the opinion costs of combined lawyers and experts.
About $ 10 million were for lawyers costs, including more than $ 700,000 Legal expenses after the trial.
Martinez used what is known as the “Lode” of calculated legal costs – permeating reasonable hours for rates – to shave the initial $ 10.28 million application of AECOM.
Aecom reduced $ 300,000 from his original request, part of this to exclude rates that involve separate litigation in the state court.
Aecom’s victorious lawyer, Pulselli PC, was not cheap. Refund requested included the work of Stephen Gurr Stephen Stephen (2,693 hours to $ 638.38 per hour per hour A total of $ 1.72 million and Adam Lewis (6,551 hours to $ 497 per hour 3.26 million dollars)). Flatiron opposed an increase in the rate of 2024 per gurr from $ 500 to $ 980, calling it opportunistic.
Martinez deduced from AECOM costs in various cases. Reduced the time rate for another powder lawyer, Garrick Vanderfin, from 731 to $ 450; In addition to $ 31,272 for timers, citing the lack of documentation and $ 302,000 for what the judge ruled was staff and poor judgment.
Martinez also cut a bit of the compensation requested by AECOM for expert witness rates, of $ 6 million, to $ 4.8 million. The judge made these cuts, saying that they included administrative rates. He made other cuts because he said he saw a lack of personnel credentials for some of the works.
The judge made a great reduction in electronic discovery costs, $ 527,000, in part for what he said was the lack of support documentation for the work done. Allowed $ 985,000. While approving $ 32,000 for a test technician, HE excluded costs for trial supplies, office space and meals (about $ 25,000 in total) as unnecessary.
