RESOLUTION 90-20081 RESOLUTION NO. 90-20081
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND
ACCEPTING ATTORNEY ROBERT BYRNE 'S SETTLEMENT
OFFER IN CITY OF MIAMI BEACH V. HERRERA, ET AL
CONCERNING PAYMENT OF $112 , 577 . 40 AS SETTLEMENT
OF ATTORNEY 'S FEES AND COSTS REGARDING PARCEL
NOS. 3 , 4 , 6 & 8, 7 , 10, 11, 14 , 15 & 16; AND
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE FUNDS TO BE TAKEN FROM
THE SOUTH POINTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXPANSION
PROJECT WORK ORDER 2970.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA THAT:
WHEREAS, on November 3 , 1988 , the City of Miami Beach instituted
an eminent domain action styled City of Miami Beach v. Herrera, et
al, Case No. 88-46741, for the purpose of acquiring 16 parcels of
property in Miami Beach for the South Pointe Elementary School
Expansion Project; and
WHEREAS, on December 28, 1988 , the City acquired title to all
of the subject 16 parcels; and
WHEREAS, as of date, all matters relating to property valuation
have been resolved, leaving only the issue of certain attorney's
fees and costs for resolution; and
WHEREAS, Attorney Robert Byrne, counsel representing parcel nos.
3 , 4 , 6 & 8 , 7 , 10, 11, 14, 15 & 16 has negotiated with the City' s
outside counsel John Lukacs, Esquire regarding the amount of
reasonable attorney's fees and costs, resulting in Attorney Byrne' s
offer in the amount of $112 , 577 . 40 representing $67 , 500. 00 for all
attorney and paralegal fees, $44 , 500. 00 for all appraisal and
planning services, and $577 . 40 for miscellaneous costs totalling
$112 , 577 . 40 ; and
WHEREAS, Attorney John Lukacs, has recommended acceptance of Mr.
Byrne' s offer of full and final settlement re: attorney' s fees and
costs in the amount of $112 , 577. 40; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney of the City of Miami Beach has
recommended acceptance of this settlement offer as well .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, THAT:
1. The City of Miami Beach finds, determines and declares that
those matters set out in the foregoing recitals are true and
correct, and they are hereby incorporated as a portion of this
Resolution; and
2 . The City Attorney' s recommendation concerning acceptance
of the settlement offer from Attorney Robert Byrne, in the total
amount of $112 , 577 . 40 representing $67 , 500. 00 for all attorney and
paralegal fees, $44 , 500. 00 for all appraisal and planning services,
and $577 . 40 for miscellaneous costs, is hereby accepted and
approved; and
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3 . The City of Miami Beach thus authorizes the appropriation
of $112 , 577 . 40 for all attorney' s fees and costs in City of Miami
Beach v. Herrera, et al regarding parcel nos. 3 , 4, 6 & 8, 7, 10,
11, 14 , 15 and 16, said funds representing total remaining payment
for the taking of said property to be taken from South Pointe
Elementary School Project Work Order 2970.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 5th day of September , 1990.
ATTEST:
YOR
'° ?q
CITY CLERK
LF/JKO/rg
FORM APPROVED
LEG L DEP
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By
Date , 11
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LUKACS LUKACS P.A.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
.825 CORAL WAY
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33145
JOHN LUKACS MIAMI (305) 856-9600
ORLANDO OFFICE
JOHN CHARLES LUKACS TELECOPIER (305) 856-3041 ' 0)7)648 9601
ROBIN ALAN LUKACS
•{ C
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July 25, 1990 ` • �-�
Laurence Feingold, Esquire N'
City Attorney
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive ; v
Miami Beach, Florida 33139-2032
c
RE: City of Miami Beach v. Herrera, et al .
Dear Mr. Feingold:
I have received and reviewed the statement of attorneys ' times and
services rendered in the captioned case as presented by the law offices
of Kelly, Black, Black, Byrne, Beasley & Bales, covering the ten or 12
parcels represented by that firm.
In a telephone conference with Mr. Robert C. Byrne, I was advised
that he has computed an hourly rate for himself and Mr. Black at
$300. 00 per hour, while the other attorneys, including Mr. Roth, Mr.
Rosen and Mr. Thomas, are calculated at $200. 00 per hour.
Based on his multiplication, he estimates a gross attorneys ' fee of
$76, 200. 00.
Additionally, his paralegal Mr. Tom
Cunninghamis beingbilled at the
g
rate of $75. 00 per hour for one hundred twenty (120) hours, or
$9 , 000. 00.
Mr. Byrne has agreed to accept a total sum of $67 , 500. 00 for all
attorneys ' fees including paralegal Cunningham; $17 , 700. 00 less than
the total claimed.
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On a more than cursory review of the total hours, it appears that
pp
substantial
numbers of attorney hours are the result of intra-office
conferences and discussions involving Mr. Byrne, Mr. Black and
paralegal Mr. Cunningham.
There also appears to be a large number of hours devoted to attorney
and paralegal "property inspection" .
There further appears to be a. substantial number of attorney and
paralegal hours involved in "sales search/review" , while at the same
time there are billings for appraisers, Hope & Klusza who, I presume,
also performed "sales search/review" .
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EXHIBIT "A"
The cost items sought to be recovered include $35 , 000 . 00 for Mr. Hope
and $13 , 730. 26 for Mr. Klusza (Mr. Byrne indicated he would agree to
$8 , 500. 00 for Mr. Klusza) , and $1, 000 . 00 to Charles Putman, for land
planning services .
The balance of the costs are routine, except that I objected to the
,.camera store. amount of. $136. 43 , the Miami Beach Zoning Codes for
.$139 . 81 and the photostatic copying at $379 . 40.
Mr. Byrne agrees to delete those items.
It was my initial felt recommendation, for your consideration, that
a disinterested trial practitioner be asked to review the time records
and files of the Kelly, Black firm to assess the propriety of the
number of hours as well as the possible duplication of effort before
stipulating to any fees. One example of my reasoning is (for instance)
on December 28, 1989, six (6) hours was spent in preparation of a
Motion, which in my review of the pleading does not appear. After
further ponderation, however, I offer the following thoughts.
The sum of $67 , 500. 00 for attorney and paralegal services, $44, 500. 00
for all appraisal and planning services, and $577 . 40 costs reflects a
total "costs and fees" of $112 , 577 . 40.
The tot4l dollar settlement was $745, 500. 00. The dollar client
benefit (increase) was $180, 500. 00.
Aside from numbers of hours, a fee based on 10% of the total case or
1/3 . of the increase is in a range of $60, 000. 00 to $75, 000. 00 .
Recognizing the multiple parcel nature of the representation, I feel
that Judge Donner would likely opt for a fee closer to the $75, 000 . 00
end, plus awarding a paralegal fee.
The total cost and fees ($112 , 577 . 40) is the equivalent of an
additional $2 . 60 per ,square foot over the area of the land acquired,
raising the average unit price from $17 . 45 to $20. 05.
In sum, although there could be some justifiable pecking at the
hours, the additional costs of a hearing including additional attorney
hours and two additional fee expert witnesses, (theirs and ours) would
probably not result in a net savings. Again, this is one of those
situations where the cost of winning exceeds the savings.
Please let me have your instructions.
Respec u ry su. itted
LU . 4)S & . . . ..CS, P.A.
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Joh ac ''� �
90- 1452: 01/ln: 26-27
LUKACS & LUKACS, P.A.
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ORIGINAL
RESOLUTION NO. 90-20081
Approving and accepting Attorney Robert
Byrne's settlement offer in City of Miami
Beach V. Herrera, et al concerning pay-
ment of $112,577.40 as settlement of
attorney's fees and costs regarding parce
Nos. 3, 4, 6 & 8, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15 & 16;
and further authorizing the funds to be
taken from the South Pointe Elementary
School Expansion Project Work Order 2970.