Opinion
19-CV-61306-RAR
08-20-2021
JEAN EMMANUEL PIERRE-LOUIS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. BAGGAGE AIRLINE GUEST SERVICES, INC., et al., Defendants.
ORDER AFFIRMING AND ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
RODOLFO A. RUIZ II UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra's Report and Recommendation [ECF No. 316] (“Report”), filed on August 4, 2021. The Report recommends that the Court grant in part and deny in part Plaintiffs' Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs [ECF No. 267]. See Report at 1. Specifically, the Report recommends that Plaintiffs be awarded a total of $140, 683.08 in attorneys' fees, and that their request for non-taxable costs be denied in its entirety. Id. Additionally, the Report recommends that Plaintiffs' request that sanctions be imposed against Defendants be denied and that Defendants' Motion for Sanctions [ECF No. 284] be denied as well. Id. The Report properly notified the parties of their right to object to Magistrate Judge Becerra's findings. Id. at 62. Plaintiffs timely filed Objections to the Report [ECF No. 317] (“Objections”) on August 18, 2021. The Court being fully advised in the premises, it is hereby
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Report [ECF No. 316] is AFFIRMED AND ADOPTED as explained herein.
LEGAL STANDARD
This Court reviews de novo the determination of any disputed portions of the Magistrate Judge's Report. United States v. Powell, 628 F.3d 1254, 1256 (11th Cir. 2010). Any portions of the Report to which no specific objection is made are reviewed only for clear error. Macort v. Prem, Inc., 208 Fed.Appx. 781, 784 (11th Cir. 2006). A proper objection “identifie[s] specific findings set forth in the [Report] and articulate[s] a legal ground for objection.” Leatherwood v. Anna's Linens Co., 384 Fed.Appx. 853, 857 (11th Cir. 2010) (alterations and emphasis added; citations omitted).
ANALYSIS
Upon due consideration of the record, including Judge Becerra's Report and Plaintiffs' Objections thereto, the Court overrules the Objections and adopts the Report. The Objections dispute the way in which Judge Becerra used her discretion to analyze several issues-but do not provide a basis for rejecting the Report. The Court finds that Judge Becerra's 63-page Report thoughtfully addresses the issues briefed by the parties. Ultimately, after reviewing the Report, the Objections, and the pertinent portions of the record, the Court, in the exercise of its discretion, agrees with and adopts Judge Becerra's detailed and well-reasoned findings of fact and conclusions of law.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1. Plaintiffs' Objections [ECF No. 317] are OVERRULED.
2. The Report [ECF No. 316] is AFFIRMED AND ADOPTED.
3. Plaintiffs' Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs [ECF No. 267] is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. Plaintiffs are hereby awarded a total of $140, 683.08, but no additional costs. Plaintiffs shall prepare and submit to the Court a proposed Final Judgment awarding taxable costs after conferring with Defendants.
4. Further, Plaintiffs' request that sanctions be imposed against Defendants is DENIED.
5. Finally, Defendants' Motion for Sanctions [ECF No. 284] is similarly DENIED.