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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MAINE MICHELE NILSEN,
ET AL., ON BEHALF ) OF THEMSELVES AND ON BEHALF OF ) OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED,

PLAINTIFFS v. YORK COUNTY, DEFENDANT

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

CIVIL NO. 02-212-P-H

ORDER ON MOTION FOR AWARD OF ATTORNEY FEES AND LITIGATION EXPENSES I. INTRODUCTION This is an award of attorney fees and expenses, out of a $3.3 million class action settlement for arrestee strip searches at the York County Jail. Although I approved final settlement in my Orders of August 18 and September 8, 2005, I reserved ruling on the motion for attorney fees. I

conclude that the preferred method for determining a reasonable attorney fee is a market-mimicking analysis. Although the market data here is scant, it leads me to award 25% of the settlement, $825,000. Final expenses remain to be determined. But it appears that approximately $2,400,000 (including interest of about $70,000)1 will go to the class members.

Total costs and expenses were projected to be $102,336 in June, 2005., Mem. 17; Mem., Ex. O, Decl. of David G. Webbert ("Webbert Decl."). The lawyers now estimate that this figure is likely to increase to at least $142,000. Pls.' Rep. on Admin. of Settlement 5 (Docket Item 181).
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II. P ROCEDURAL B ACKGROUND Individuals processed at York County Jail ("Jail") filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C.

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Maine Law