ORDER (Dkt. ##27, 37)

ANDREW P. GORDON, District Judge.

This order addresses three pending issues: (1) Magistrate Judge Hoffman's Report and Recommendation recommending that default be entered against defendant Auto Gallery, Inc. (Dkt. #37), (2) plaintiffs' request for attorneys' fees and costs (Dkt. #27), and (3) plaintiffs' request for partial summary judgment on their breach of contract claim (Dkt. #27.).

I. Magistrate Judge Hoffman's report and recommendation

On November 21, 2014 Magistrate Judge Hoffman entered a Report and Recommendation recommending that I enter default against Auto Gallery. I am not obligated to conduct a de novo review of Judge Hoffman's report because Auto Gallery failed to file a timely objection.1 Nevertheless, I have conducted a de novo review and Magistrate Judge Hoffman's report sets forth the proper legal analysis, and factual basis, for his decision. I therefore accept Magistrate Judge Hoffman's report in its entirety.

II. Plaintiffs' request for attorneys' fees and costs

Plaintiffs' motion for attorney's fees is unopposed. Under Local Rule 7-2(d), the failure of an opposing party to file points and authorities in response to a motion constitutes consent to the granting of the motion. Thus, the defendant's failure to oppose is sufficient grounds, on its own, for me to grant the motion.2 But, as explained below, I have reviewed the motion and determined that plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys' fees and that the fees they request are reasonable.

A. Whether plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys' fees

In a previous order I held that Auto Gallery violated N.R.S. sections 97.185(1)(e) and 97.299(2)(d), committed consumer fraud by means of a deceptive trade practice under N.R.S. sections 41.600 and 598.0923(3), committed conversion, and breached a contract with plaintiffs.3

Given my findings in my previous order, there are several grounds for me to award attorneys' fees in this case. Defendants' consumer-fraud violations trigger NRS 41.600(3) which states that reasonable attorneys' fees shall be awarded to a prevailing party. NRCP 68(f) also permits me to award reasonable attorneys' fees when a defendant rejects an offer of judgment and subsequently fails to obtain a more favorable judgment—as was the case here.4 Nevada law permits me to award attorneys' fees to pro bono counsel.5

Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees.

B. Whether plaintiffs' fee calculation is reasonable

The reasonableness of attorneys' fees is calculated using the "lodestar" figure.6 The lodestar is calculated by "multiplying the number of hours the prevailing party reasonably expended on the litigation by a reasonable hourly rate."7 After calculating the lodestar figure I may "assess whether it is necessary to adjust the presumptively reasonable lodestar figure on the basis of the Kerr factors."8 The factors I may consider include:

However, "[t]here is a strong presumption the lodestar figure represents a reasonable fee. Only in rare instances should the lodestar figure be adjusted on the basis of other considerations."10

Plaintiffs submitted detailed billing records meticulously recording counsels' billed hours to the tenth of the hour.11 Generally, "the court should defer to the winning lawyer's professional judgment as to how much time he was required to spend on the case; after all, he won."12 The number of hours billed by plaintiffs' counsel is reasonable given the extensive and complex briefing in this case, the complications created by plaintiffs' language barrier, and the necessary factual investigations.13

Plaintiffs' billing rates are reasonable. Most of plaintiffs' counsel billed at the rate of $250.00 an hour. One of plaintiffs' attorneys—Mr. Wulz who has been practicing law for over 35 years—billed at the rate of $300.00 an hour. These are reasonable rates given counsels' experience and skill in these types of matters.

C. Conclusion

I find plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys' fees and their calculation of $23,385.00 in fees is reasonable. I also award plaintiffs' costs in the amount of $390.0014 and prejudgment interest in the amount of $555.52.15

III. Plaintiffs request for partial summary judgment on their breach of contract claims

On April 28, 2014 I entered summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs on their ninth claim of breach of contract.16 However, I failed to include plaintiffs' $8,200 in damages in that order.17 I find that, based on my prior order, plaintiffs are entitled to partial summary judgment in the amount of $8,200 in damages for their breach of contract claim.

IV. CONCLUSION

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Hoffman's Report and Recommendation (Dkt. #37) is accepted in its entirety. The clerk of court is instructed to enter default against defendant Auto Gallery, Inc.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion for fees and costs (Dkt. #27) is GRANTED. Plaintiffs are awarded attorneys' fees in the amount of $23,385.00, costs in the amount of $390.00, and prejudgment interest in the amount of $555.52.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment (Dkt. #27) is GRANTED, and judgment is entered in plaintiffs' favor in the amount of $8,200 in damages for plaintiffs' ninth claim, asserting breach of contract.

The clerk of court shall enter judgment accordingly.