Marie Johnston v. City of Chicago Police Department - State of Illinois

states that the hourly rate of $250.00 is within the reasonable market rate for an attorneyin Chicago with similar experience as Malone. Taren’s current usual and customarybilling rate for an individual employment case is $340.00 per hour; for 2002 and 2003 hisbilling rate was $325.00 hour.Complainant’s requested hourly rate of $250. 00 is supported by the avermentsof two attorneys familiar with the rates charged for comparable services in theChicagoland area in civil rights matters. The requested rate is reasonable and is notobjected to by Respondent.Appropriate Number of Hours ExpendedOnce the hourly rate is decided upon, the next step is to determine whether thehours claimed are justified. Complainant files a billing itemization as to the time spentand hours billed for services performed. The billing statement is sufficiently detailed forexamination. I have examined the billing statement and find the hours expended andrequested are reasonable and adequately supported.CostsComplainant requests $26.80 in expenses for the preparation of copies ofexhibits for witnesses and the Administrative Law Judge, $13.44 for copies of exhibitsand material for Respondent’s counsel, and $30.00 for a witness fee to Carl Merrit.Malone states in her affidavit that these expenses were not usual office expenses, butwere expenses incurred to prepare copies of exhibits utilized at trial and for witness fees.I find these fees are reasonable and adequately supported for the litigation of this matter.RECOMMENDATIONBased on the foregoing, I recommend that:1. Respondent be ordered to pay Complainant $29,875.00 for reasonable attorney’sfees for the services of Malone;2. Respondent be ordered to pay Complainant $70.24 for reasonable costs;5