Peterson v. City of Red Bluff et al.

Case: Peterson v. City of Red Bluff et al. Case No. CV2025-1674 Hearing Date: May 26, 2026 Department Fourteen 9:00 a.m.

Defendant Cody Strock’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs is GRANTED IN PART in the amount of $20,235.00, in attorneys’ fees and $674.78 in costs. (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16, subd. (c)(1).)

The Court finds that the proffered hourly rates claimed by defendant’s counsel are reasonable. (PLCM Group, Inc. v. Drexler (2000) 22 Cal.4th 1084, 1095; see also Heritage Pacific Financial, LLC v. Monroy (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 972, 1004 [“[t]he reasonable hourly rate is that prevailing in the community for similar work”]; Camy Decl., ¶ 2; Horan Decl., ¶ 2; Rose Decl., ¶ 2; Mann Decl., ¶ 3.)

Additionally, defendant has established that that the hours expended by defendant’s counsel in connection with the special motion to strike and the motion for attoneys’ fees and costs are reasonable. (Ketchum v. Moses (2001) 24 Cal.4th 1122, 1133 [“an award of fees may include not only the fees incurred with respect to the underlying claim, but also the fees incurred in enforcing the right to mandatory fees under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16”]; Camy Decl., ¶ 2; Horan Decl., ¶ 2; Rose Decl., ¶ 2; Mann Decl., ¶ 3; Camy Decl. ISO reply, ¶ 2; Mann Decl. ISO reply, ¶ 5.)

However, the Court declines to award attorneys’ fees and costs for the hours expended by defendant’s counsel in connection with the demurrer. (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16, subd. (c)(1); 569 East County Boulevard LLC v. Backcountry Against the Dump, Inc. (2016) 6 Cal.App.5th 426, 433