Pennsylvania law. . . recognizes “the general principle that
contractual damages provisions are unenforceable where they act as penalties
rather than liquidated damages.” . . . .liquidated damages are allowable, but a
penalty clause, which acts primarily as a contract-breach deterrent, is a
punishment and unenforceable on public policy grounds). “An attempt to fix a
particular sum as attorney’s fees or set a formula for their calculation must
meet the same test as a liquidated damages clause.” . . .Pennsylvania law thus
“requires that a contractual agreement setting attorney’s fees be ‘reasonable,’
and allows for court modification of unreasonable fee provisions.” Webster
Capital Finance, Inc., 2011 WL 2039058 at *10 (finding that 20% attorney’s fee
in loan agreements underlying complaint in confession of judgment was unreasonable
and an unenforceable penalty clause).
“As such, courts are encouraged
to be alert for excessive attorney fees, and to exercise their inherent
equitable power to reduce them where appropriate.” Textron Fin. Corp. v.
Vacation Charters, Ltd., No.11-1957, 2012 WL 760602, at *5 (M.D. Pa. Mar. 8,
2012), citing PNC Bank, 655 A.2d at 1000 (finding charge in complaint in
confession of judgment of more than $70,000 for attorney’s fees for “what in
most cases amounts to filing a single document” was “blatantly unreasonable”);
see also Dollar Bank v. Northwood Cheese Co., Inc., 637 A.2d 309, 314 (Pa.
Super. Ct. 1994) (court may modify amount of attorney’s fee if excessive);
McMullen v. Kutz, 985 A.2d 769, 777 (Pa. 2009) (holding that the state’s trial
courts could review attorneys’ fees for reasonableness and reduce them
accordingly despite the parties having already contractually agreed the
breaching party would pay the attorneys’ fees). “Of course, ‘[w]hat may be
reasonable is not necessarily the amount stipulated in the contract.’” Textron
Fin. Corp., 2012 WL 760602, at *5, quoting Consumers Time Credit, Inc. v.
Remark Corp., 259 F. Supp. 135, 137 (E.D. Pa. 1966) (alterations in original);
see also Republic First Bank v. Jemal, No. 10-1009, 2011 WL 4087564, at *8
(E.D. Pa. Sept. 13, 2011) report and recommendation adopted, No. 10-CV-1009,
2011 WL 4344030 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 14, 2011) (finding loan agreement stating
plaintiff may confess attorneys’ fees in the amount of 15% of the total
indebtedness “unreasonably operate[d] as a penalty, which makes them
unenforceable”).1
While the parties in this
case entered into a contract which provided for attorneys’ fees in the amount
of fifteen percent in the event of default on the loan and expressly agreed
that such a fee was reasonable, see e.g., Am. Compl., Ex. J, p. 5, given the
guiding principles discussed above I find further inquiry into First Republic’s
request for attorneys’ fees to be appropriate__________________________
(1) the time and labor required; (2) the novelty and difficulty of the questions; (3) the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (4) the preclusion of employment by the attorney due to acceptance of the case; (5) the customary fee; (6) whether the fee is fixed or contingent; (7) time limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances; (8) the amount involved and the results obtained; (9) the experience, reputation, and ability of the attorneys; (10) the ‘undesirability’ of the case; (11) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; and (12) awards in similar cases.
Carey v. City of Wilkes-Barre, No. 11-2671, 2012 WL 3608613, at *2 n.3 (3d Cir. Aug. 23, 2012), quoting City of Riverside v. Rivera, 477 U.S. 561, 568 n. 3 (1986).
Similarly, Pennsylvania courts in determining the
reasonableness of fees and expenses generally consider:
the amount and character of the services rendered; the labor,
time and trouble involved; the character and importance of the litigation; the
amount of money or value of property affected; the professional skill and
experience called for; the standing of the attorney in his profession; and the
pecuniary benefit derived from the success.
Nationwide Energy Corp. v.
Kleiser, No. 84-3517, 1987 WL 10655, at *3 (E.D. Pa. May 7, 1987), citing
Huffman Estate (No. 3), 36 A.2d 640, 643 (Pa. 1944).
