16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 341b
Online Reference: FLWSUPP 164CARUS
Insurance — Personal injury protection — Attorney’s fees — Amount
ANGELA CARUSO, Plaintiff, vs. UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Florida corporation, Defendant. County Court, 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Civil Division. Case No. 06-00972 CC 25 (01). January 2, 2009. Andrew S. Hague, Judge. Counsel: Jonathan R. Friedland, for Plaintiff. Juan Montes.
FINAL JUDGMENT FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS
THIS CAUSE, having come on to be heard before the Court upon the Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO’s Motion for Entry of Final Judgment as to Attorney’s Fees and Costs and the Court being otherwise duly advised in the premises, the Court finds as follows:
1. The Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO’s contract with Plaintiff’s counsel, Jonathan R. Friedland, Esquire is a contingency fee agreement.
2. Pursuant to this Court having entered Final Judgment for the Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO, on July 17, 2008 the Plaintiff is hereby entitled to an award of attorney’s fees and costs from Defendant, UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, pursuant to Section 627.428, Florida Statutes.
3. That the Court has reviewed the relevant facts in Florida Patient’s Compensation Fund v. Rowe, 472 So.2d 1145 (Fla. 1985), and Standard Guaranty Insurance Company v. Quanstrom, 555 So.2d 828 (Fla. 1990), in considering the reasonable fee to be awarded to Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO’s counsel.
4. That a reasonable hourly fee for the trial time and services rendered by the Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO’s counsel, prior to March 27, 2007 is $15,050.00.
5. That the reasonable hourly fee for the trial time and services expended by the Plaintiff’s counsel, Jonathan R. Friedland, Esquire, after March 27, 2007 is $6,581.25 (17.55 hours at $375.00 per hour).
6. That Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO, is entitled to the amount of $818.30 as and for taxable costs.
WHEREUPON, IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1. That Plaintiff’s attorney, Jonathan R. Friedland, Esquire shall recover of and from the Defendant, UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY attorney’s fees in the amount of $21,631.25 plus taxable costs in the amount of $818.30.
2. Plaintiff, ANGELA CARUSO, shall recover pre-judgment interest from July 17, 2008 in the amount of $1,130.59.
3. The aggregate amount of the foregoing sums is $22,761.84.
4. That interest shall accrue on the aggregate sum at the rate of interest, currently eleven percent (11%) per annum, until such sums are fully satisfied, all for which let execution issue.
5. The Court reserves jurisdiction to award appellate fees at a later time, if so awardable. This award only covers trial time expended by Jonathan R. Friedland, Esq.
