Trump seeks $341K in attorney fees in Daniels case

Claiming penalties imposed against adult film actress Stormy Daniels must be severe enough to deter meritless filings, lawyers for President Donald J. Trump requested $341,559 in attorney fees Monday.

Trump counsel Charles Harder of Harder LLP lists a total of 509 hours, divided among five attorneys, went into fighting off Daniels' recently defeated defamation claim. U.S. District Judge James Otero dismissed the case earlier this month citing Texas anti-SLAPP laws.

Noting the typically-high fee demands in anti-SLAPP cases and touting recent media attention on his practice, Harder's hourly rate is $841. Rates of the firm's four other members range between $756 and $307.

Harder said the fees imposed must carry enough weight to stop Daniels, and her attorney Michael Avenatti, from continuing to file claims against Trump. Citing three media appearances by Daniels and 150 by Avenatti, Harder said the plaintiff had "engaged in an extensive publicity campaign relating to this case" and benefited financially in doing so.

"The court should deliver a clear message that meritless defamation claims are unacceptable, should never happen again, and will yield her no benefits," Harder wrote.

A hearing on the fee request is scheduled for Nov. 26. Stephanie Clifford v. Donald J. Trump, 18-cv-06893(C.D. Cal., filed August 10, 2018).

Avenatti did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Monday.

Kenneth White, a First Amendment attorney at Brown, White & Osborn LLP not associated with the case, said while he hadn't had a chance to thoroughly review the fee request late Monday, the amount requested "seems preposterously high for the relatively limited proceedings in the case."