pennsylvania del valley citizens council argued march decided july section clean air act provides action enforce act may award costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees party whenever determines award appropriate respondent delaware valley citizens council clean air hereafter respondent filed suit federal district compel pennsylvania implement vehicle emission inspection maintenance program program required act pursuant consent decree approved state agreed establish program certain counties decree required pennsylvania department transportation penndot seek legislation instituting franchise program legislation approved promulgate regulations allowing state certify private garage facilities perform inspections implementation program however proceed smoothly factual developments following entry consent decree divided several phases including phase ii respondent penndot published proposed regulations continued monitor state performance consent decree submitted comments proposed regulations phase pennsylvania legislature enacted statute prohibiting expenditure state funds program respondent successfully opposed state motion stay consent decree district held state contempt ordered secretary transportation refrain approving projects award grants highways area covered consent decree certain exceptions appeals upheld district phase ix involved work done respondent hearings environmental protection agency state unsuccessfully sought agency approval program covering smaller geographic area called consent decree respondent pursuant sought attorney fees costs work performed issuance consent decree district awarded respondent attorney fees included time spent counsel phases ii ix holding state objection proposed regulations affected respondent rights consent decree unique interest state federal administrative proceedings made counsel work sufficiently related litigation compensable phase district based superior quality counsel performance phase applied multiplier two adjust lodestar amount product reasonable hours times reasonable rate attorney fees appeals affirmed fee awards phases ii ix held section authorizes attorney fees time spent counsel phases ii ix fact work done counsel phases occur context traditional judicial litigation preclude award reasonable attorney fees work participation administrative proceedings crucial vindication respondent rights consent decree compensation activities entirely proper well within zone discretion afforded district pp lower courts erred increasing attorney fee award respondent phase based superior quality counsel performance pp lodestar figure includes relevant factors constituting reasonable attorney fee unnecessary enhance fee superior performance order serve statutory purpose enabling plaintiffs receive legal assistance pp evidence submitted respondent support petition attorney fees indicate lodestar figure provide reasonable fee award reflecting quality representation provided phase respondent presented evidence made results obtained phase outstanding lodestar figure far awards made similar cases neither district appeals made findings lodestar amount unreasonable absence evidence findings reason increase fee award phase quality representation pp white delivered opinion burger powell rehnquist stevens joined parts ii brennan marshall blackmun joined blackmun filed opinion concurring part dissenting part marshall joined part ii brennan joined post jay waldman argued cause petitioners briefs henry barr spencer manthorpe john hrubovcak john krill kathryn oberly argued cause respondent rule support petitioners brief solicitor general fried henry habicht ii deputy solicitor general geller james crawford argued cause respondents brief joyce meyers brief amici curiae filed state arizona et al francis bellotti attorney general massachusetts suzanne durrell assistant attorney general robert corbin attorney general arizona joseph lieberman attorney general connecticut michael bowers attorney general georgia richard opper attorney general guam corinne watanabe attorney general hawaii jim jones attorney general idaho neil hartigan attorney general illinois linley pearson attorney general indiana david armstrong attorney general kentucky william guste attorney general louisiana james tierney attorney general maine stephen sachs attorney general maryland frank kelley attorney general michigan louis caruso solicitor general edwin lloyd pittman attorney general mississippi william webster attorney general missouri stephen merrill attorney general new hampshire lacy thornburg attorney general north carolina nicholas spaeth attorney general north dakota anthony celebrezze attorney general ohio michael turpen attorney general oklahoma travis medlock attorney general south carolina jeffrey amestoy attorney general vermont william broaddus attorney general virginia kenneth eikenberry attorney general washington charles brown attorney general west virginia mcclintock attorney general wyoming justice white delivered opinion questions presented case first whether clean air act et authorizes attorney fees awards time spent counsel participating regulatory proceedings second whether may enhance award reflect superior quality representation rendered plaintiff counsel third whether enhancement fee proper plaintiff risk prevailing merits delaware valley citizens council clean air delaware valley filed suit compel commonwealth pennsylvania implement vehicle emission inspection maintenance program program required clean air act see pursuant consent decree approved commonwealth agreed establish program counties philadelphia pittsburgh areas august decree called pennsylvania department transportation penndot seek legislation instituting franchise system commonwealth contract garage owners establishment inspection stations legislature failed approve system decree required penndot promulgate regulations allowing pennsylvania certify number private garage facilities perform inspections addition decree provided pennsylvania pay delaware valley attorney fees costs incurred prior entry consent decree entry consent decree marked beginning story implementation program proceed smoothly simplicity sake summarize relevant factual developments nine phases phase relating different aspect litigation method used parties followed lower courts system analyzing requests attorney fees costs appears useful protracted litigation phase entry consent decree pennsylvania legislature refused enact franchise system decree penndot july publish necessary regulations penndot failed comply delaware valley moved commonwealth held contempt penndot published proposed regulations however scheduled hearing motion thus refrained finding commonwealth contempt ordered parties establish revised schedule implementation program approved consent decree phase ii penndot published proposed program regulations delaware valley continued monitor commonwealth performance consent decree submitted comments regulations published pennsylvania bulletin phase iii late commonwealth requested modification decree delaying implementation program may delaware valley approval district approved extension march phase iv february commonwealth still published final regulations covering type equipment private garages needed order become certified inspection stations commonwealth thus asked delaware valley consent postponement implementation date january commonwealth argued environmental protection agency recommended type emission analyzer different one required consent decree time manufacturer produced even prototype machinery extensive negotiations extension request parties failed reach agreement commonwealth filed motion asking district grant second extension delay starting date program january response delaware valley sought declare commonwealth violation consent decree requested numerous modifications consent decree may issued order finding commonwealth violation decree denying motion extension denying modifications submitted delaware valley app june denied commonwealth motion reconsideration approved may new deadline implementation program commonwealth appealed may june orders affirmed appeals delaware valley citizens council clean air commonwealth cert denied phase following district order june pennsylvania general assembly enacted statute governor veto prohibited expenditure state funds executive branch implementation program act laws penndot remainder executive branch promptly ceased activities related implementing program except publication final regulations establishing specifications emissions analysis equipment used garage owners wishing participate inspection locations bull commonwealth moved stay implementation consent decree light delaware valley opposed motion sought declare commonwealth contempt apply sanctions denied commonwealth motion stay held commonwealth civil contempt delaware valley citizens council clean air commonwealth supp ed sanction ordered secretary transportation refrain approving projects awarding grants highways two areas covered consent decree except projects required purposes safety mass transit air quality improvement commonwealth appealed appeals upheld district orders cert denied phase vi filing consent decree city pittsburgh several groups pennsylvania legislators attempted intervene litigation delaware valley successfully opposed attempts delaware valley citizens council clean air commonwealth stay denied phase vii noted portion district contempt order prevented secretary transportation authorizing expenditure federal funds federal highway projects pennsylvania fall certain categories late approved seven projects funding certifying either improve safety improve air quality certifications submitted delaware valley district found five projects qualify exemptions terms prior order approved two proposals federal funding delaware valley citizens council clean air commonwealth supp ed phase viii may pennsylvania general assembly finally passed legislation authorizing commonwealth proceed implementation program governor signed bill law next day cons stat subsequently delaware valley commonwealth negotiated new compliance schedule program begin june district approved new schedule vacated earlier contempt sanctions phase ix phase includes work done delaware valley hearings environmental protection agency inter alia commonwealth unsuccessfully sought agency approval program covering smaller geographic area delaware valley sought attorney fees costs work performed issuance consent decree app district awarded delaware valley attorney fees additional costs supp ed calculate legal fee award district first determined number hours reasonably necessary perform legal services compensation sought reasonable number hours multiplied reasonable hourly rate attorney providing services latter based determination attorney reputation status type activity attorney seeking compensation sum two figures lodestar adjusted upward downward based contingency success quality attorney work instances plaintiffs burden establishing entitlement award claimed adjustment lodestar citations omitted part hours delaware valley sought compensation spent postdecree litigation phases ii ix however pennsylvania objected delaware valley seeking compensation work done tangentially related state federal administrative proceedings district rejected argument found proposed regulations affected delaware valley rights consent decree unique interest proceedings made work sufficiently related litigation compensable see determining lodestar amounts phases litigation next considered delaware valley request multipliers adjust figures contingent nature case quality work performed results obtained citing hensley eckerhart given case involved new legal theories little precedent delaware valley forced go federal government commonwealth pennsylvania obtain consent decree initially protect overturned found contingent nature delaware valley success apparent throughout litigation also found delaware valley work phase superior increase based quality work culminated outstanding result fully justified ibid citation omitted accordingly district applied multiplier two awards phases iv vii reflect low likelihood success delaware valley faced stages litigation addition added separate multiplier two phase adjust lodestar high quality representation provided phase final calculation fee award nine phases follows lodestar multiplier total appeals third circuit affirmed analogized clean air act provides counsels fees statutory attorney fee provisions held jurisprudence regarding calculation reasonable attorneys fees developed connection attorneys fees statutes particularly applicable cases brought pursuant affirmed award fees time spent commenting commonwealth proposed regulations phase ii reasons stated district appeals also agreed fee award time devoted delaware valley phase ix proper adoption state plan modification impaired rights delaware valley consent decree took note webb board ed dyer county held time spent optional administrative proceedings may compensable work useful type ordinarily necessary advance litigation point party succeeded appeals found work counsel phases ii ix useful necessary securing full enforcement decree district fee awards two phases consistent webb respect use multipliers appeals concluded rare case fee applicant offer ed specific evidence show quality service rendered superior one reasonably expect light hourly rates charged success exceptional quoting blum stenson also approved use contingency multipliers compensate delaware valley risk prevailing stated unlike blum delaware valley specifically identified risks inherent litigation brief district although considers open question whether contingency success properly justify lodestar increase resolved question see hall borough roselle cir lindy brothers builders american radiator standard sanitary en banc ii section clean air act stat provides pertinent part follows issuing final order action brought pursuant subsection section may award costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees party whenever determines award appropriate although true proceedings involved phases ii ix judicial sense occur courtroom involve traditional legal work examination witnesses selection jurors trial work done counsel two phases necessary attainment adequate relief client earlier work courtroom secured delaware valley initial success obtaining consent decree case involve single tortious act commonwealth resulted discrete injury delaware valley harm alleged kind remedied mere award damages entry declaratory relief instead delaware valley filed suit force commonwealth comply obligations clean air act develop implement emissions inspection maintenance program covering counties surrounding two major metropolitan areas end consent decree provided detailed instructions program developed specific dates tasks accomplished protection full scope relief afforded consent decree thus crucial safeguard interests asserted delaware valley enforcement decree whether courtroom judge front regulatory agency power modify substance program ordered involved type work properly compensable cost litigation case kind measures necessary enforce remedy ordered district divorced matters upon delaware valley prevailed securing consent decree several courts held context civil rights attorney fees awards act postjudgment monitoring consent decree compensable activity counsel entitled reasonable fee see garrity sununu bond stanton miller carson northcross board ed memphis city schools cert denied although authorizes fees action proceeding brought enforce civil rights acts applies action brought clean air act distinction sufficient indication congress intended apply judicial administrative proceedings first several instances legislative history section congress used words action proceeding interchangeably see legislative history clean air amendments committee print compiled senate committee public works library congress ser senate consideration report conference committee leg lack phrase proceedings face necessarily indicative intended scope section second importantly purposes behind nearly identical lends credence idea interpreted similar manner northcross memphis board section enacted insure private citizens meaningful opportunity vindicate rights protected civil rights acts hensley eckerhart see effective enforcement federal civil rights statutes depends largely efforts private citizens unless reasonable attorney fees awarded bringing actions congress found many legitimate claims redressed similarly authorizes private citizens sue person violating clean air act provides reasonable attorney fees whenever appropriate congress enacted specifically encourage citizen participation enforcement standards regulations established act intended section afford citizens broad opportunities participate effort prevent abate air pollution leg senate consideration report conference committee remarks eagleton congress found government initiative seeking enforcement clean air act restrained urged courts recognize bringing legitimate actions section citizens performing public service instances courts award costs litigation party given common purpose promote citizen enforcement important federal policies find reason interpret provisions governing attorney fees manner hold therefore fact work done counsel phases ii ix occur context traditional judicial litigation preclude award reasonable attorney fees work done portions present action conclusion consistent opinion webb board ed dyer county noted time spent pursuing optional administrative proceedings properly included calculation reasonable attorney fee work must useful type ordinarily necessary secure final result obtained litigation application standard left discretion district district found phase ii delaware valley unique interest proposed regulation based desire ensure compliance consent decree protect rights thereunder usefulness delaware valley comments manifested revisions made original regulations similarly found counsel work phase ix helped protect relief awarded consent decree modification program environmental protection agency adversely affected delaware valley rights decree agree participation administrative proceedings crucial vindication delaware valley rights consent decree find compensation activities entirely proper well within zone discretion afforded district hensley supra brennan concurring part dissenting part thus affirm award fees work done phases ii ix iii well established american rule prevailing litigant ordinarily entitled collect reasonable attorneys fee loser alyeska pipeline service wilderness society exceptions principle major one congressional authorization courts require one party award attorney fees separate statutes providing award attorney fees although provisions cover wide variety contexts causes action benchmark awards nearly statutes attorney fee must reasonable courts struggled formulate proper measure determining reasonableness particular fee award one method first employed fifth circuit johnson georgia highway express involved consideration factors johnson widely followed courts cited approval house senate enacted law approach required trial courts consider elements go determining propriety legal fees intended provide appellate courts substantial objective records review trial determinations see johnson supra mode analysis however without shortcomings major fault gave little actual guidance district courts setting attorney fees reference series sometimes subjective factors placed unlimited discretion trial judges produced disparate results reason third circuit developed another method calculating reasonable attorney fees method known lodestar approach involved two steps first calculate lodestar determined multiplying hours spent case reasonable hourly rate compensation attorney involved lindy builders philadelphia american radiator standard sanitary lindy second using lodestar figure starting point make adjustments figure light contingent nature case reflecting likelihood hours invested expenses incurred without assurance compensation quality work performed evidenced work observed complexity issues recovery obtained merola atlantic richfield lindy builders philadelphia american radiator standard sanitary lindy ii formulation emphasized amount time expended attorneys provided analytical framework lower courts follow unguided factors approach provided johnson hand allowing courts adjust lodestar amount based considerations riskiness lawsuit quality attorney work still produce inconsistent arbitrary fee awards first addressed question proper manner determine reasonable attorney fee hensley eckerhart adopted hybrid approach shared elements johnson lodestar method calculation useful starting point determining amount reasonable fee number hours reasonably expended litigation multiplied reasonable hourly rate calculation provides objective basis make initial estimate value lawyer services extent method endorsed hensley follows third circuit description first step lodestar approach moreover went state product reasonable hours times reasonable rate end inquiry remain considerations may lead district adjust fee upward downward took expansive view considerations might however nothing district also may consider factors identified johnson georgia highway express though note many factors usually subsumed within initial calculation hours reasonably expended reasonable hourly rate citation omitted refined views blum stenson blum restated proper first step determining reasonable attorney fee multiply number hours reasonably expended litigation times reasonable hourly rate emphasized however figure resulting calculation mere rough guess initial approximation final award made instead found hen applicant fee carried burden showing claimed rate number hours reasonable resulting product presumed reasonable fee counsel entitled emphasis added blum also limited factors district may consider determining whether make adjustments lodestar amount expanding earlier finding hensley many johnson factors subsumed within initial calculation lodestar specifically held blum novelty complexity issues special skill experience counsel quality representation results obtained litigation presumably fully reflected lodestar amount thus serve independent bases increasing basic fee award although upward adjustments lodestar figure still permissible modifications proper certain rare exceptional cases supported specific evidence record detailed findings lower courts see strong presumption lodestar figure product reasonable hours times reasonable rate represents reasonable fee wholly consistent rationale behind usual statute including one present case statutes designed form economic relief improve financial lot attorneys intended replicate exactly fee attorney earn private fee arrangement client instead aim statutes enable private parties obtain legal help seeking redress injuries resulting actual threatened violation specific federal laws hence plaintiffs delaware valley find possible engage lawyer based statutory assurance paid reasonable fee purpose behind statute satisfied moreover attorney first accepts case agrees represent client obligates perform best ability produce best possible results commensurate skill client interests calculating fee award manner accounts factors either determining reasonable number hours expended litigation setting reasonable hourly rate thus adequately compensates attorney leaves little room enhancing award based performance short lodestar figure includes relevant factors constituting reasonable attorney fee unnecessary enhance fee superior performance order serve statutory purpose enabling plaintiffs secure legal assistance teaching prior cases mind sustain commonwealth contention lower courts erred increasing fee award delaware valley phase based superior quality counsel performance relying statement blum upward adjustment may justified rare case fee applicant offers specific evidence show quality service rendered superior one reasonably expect light hourly rates charged success exceptional third circuit affirmed district findings concerning superior quality delaware valley counsel work phase outstanding result obtained phase holding increase portion lodestar factor two appropriate agree considerations concerning quality prevailing party counsel representation normally reflected reasonable hourly rate overall quality performance ordinarily used adjust lodestar thus removing danger double counting furthermore unpersuaded lodestar amount determined phase case fully reflect quality competence legal services rendered delaware valley lawyers portion litigation counsel sought compensation approximately hours work district allowed compensation hours district elimination large number hours grounds unnecessary unreasonable unproductive supportive later conclusion remaining hours represented work superior quality also note hours compensated hours compensated per hour hours billed hourly rate remaining hours paid per hour definition rate applied work required little legal ability rate proper work done attorney working associate level given nearly hours reasonably spent phase compensated hourly rate work found difficult hard see made quality representation hours superior reflected hourly rate used determine lodestar amount conclusion reinforced fact third circuit expressly found hourly rate attorney compensated hours plainly appropriate given inexperienced attorne without prior significant litigation experience see also district set fees based evaluation status reputation experience individual attorneys performed activity sum viewing evidence submitted delaware valley support petition attorney fees indication lodestar provide reasonable fee award reflecting quality representation provided phase litigation clearly delaware valley able obtain counsel without promise reward extraordinary performance furthermore delaware valley presented specific evidence made results obtained phase outstanding provide indication lodestar figure portion case far awards made similar cases found equally superior quality performance finally neither district appeals made detailed findings lodestar amount unreasonable particular quality representation reflected product reasonable number hours times reasonable hourly rate absence evidence findings find reason increase fee award phase quality representation iv remains question upward adjustment way multipliers enhancement lodestar based likelihood success put another way risk loss question left open blum courts appeals entirely accord view resolution issue benefited reargument hence decide accordingly order issue restoring case argument docket insofar raises question whether attorney fees chargeable losing defendant clean air act comparable statutes may enhanced based risk loss extent judgment therefore affirmed insofar upheld award attorney fees work done phases ii ix except multiplier risk otherwise reversed ordered footnotes determining lodestar amounts district eliminated hours submitted delaware valley hours eliminated documented sufficient detail additional hours excluded disallowed time spent attorneys preparing attending hearings another attorney delaware valley principal advocate also denied certain number hours activities related proceedings found necessary protect delaware valley rights consent decree finally significant number hours eliminated based conclusion time spent particular activity excessive less amount time reasonable see district also awarded delaware valley additional legal fees work done preparing fee petition judge becker dissented affirmance award multipliers risk prevailing phases iv vii simply insufficient justify substantial multiplier awarded district phases commonwealth burden proof seeking modify consent decree multiplier four used phase judge becker concluded even assuming award quality contingency multipliers appropriate multipliers must recalculated case rare justify light blum award extraordinary multiplier ibid citations omitted express judgment question whether award attorney fees appropriate federal administrative proceedings connected action fees recoverable addition statutory exception courts traditionally recognized three exceptions american rule first courts enforce orders assessing attorney fees wilfull violation order alyeska second courts empowered award fees losing party acted bad faith vexatiously wantonly oppressive reasons finally equitable powers allow award fees commercial litigation plaintiffs recovered common fund others securities antitrust litigation none situations involved present case factors time labor required novelty difficulty question skill requisite perform legal service properly preclusion employment attorney due acceptance case customary fee whether fee fixed contingent time limitations imposed client circumstances amount involved results obtained experience reputation ability attorney undesirability case nature length professional relationship client awards similar cases factors taken american bar association code professional responsibility disciplinary rule justice blackmun justice marshall joins justice brennan joins part ii concurring part dissenting part dissent piecemeal adjudication issues case set entire case part reargument next term rush judgment certain issues serve confuse federal courts entire case decided insists covering merits part turn ii join parts ii opinion part iii purports follow blum stenson held adjustment quality available rare case fee applicant offers specific evidence show quality service rendered superior one reasonably expect light hourly rates charged success exceptional citing hensley eckerhart today however improperly heightens showing required point may virtually impossible plaintiff meet compare blum supra ante although district decision issued blum quality adjustment phase full accord standards subsequently laid blum compare supp ed proper standard review attorney fee award abuse discretion evans jeff blum supra think district abused discretion multiplying two lodestar phase order adjust quality majority applied proper deferential standard review quality issue rather substituting judgment district see ante may reached result