The following excerpt is from U.S. ex rel. Penn Air Control Inc. v. Bilbro Constr. Co., Case No.: 16-cv-003-WQH-NLS (S.D. Cal. 2019):
hourly rate used for the lodestar calculation is that prevailing in the community for similar work." Id. at 772. After determining the reasonable hourly rate for comparable legal services in the community, courts may adjust that amount based on the following factors: "(1) the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, (2) the skill displayed in presenting them, (3) the extent to which the nature of the litigation precluded other employment by the attorneys, (4) the contingent nature of the fee award." Ketchum v. Moses, 17 P.3d 735, 741 (Cal. 2001). "[T]he purpose of such adjustment is to fix a fee at the fair market value for the particular action." Id.
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