Judge cuts Beastie Boys' 'Cadillac' legal bill

Kevin McCoy | USA TODAY

Iconic hip-hop band the Beastie Boys could fight for the right to recover legal expenses in a copyright infringement case — but not at any cost.

A federal judge in New York has slashed the nearly $2.4 million "Cadillac Escalade" reimbursement the band sought from the maker of Monster Energy drinks, ruling instead that a "Honda Civic" award of $667,849 was reasonable.

The Monday decision resolved a post-trial debate following last year's Manhattan federal court trial that pitted Monster Energy against the band popular for "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)," "Make Some Noise" and other songs.

Jurors found that a Monster Energy video promoting the company's brand and drinks had improperly used portions of five Beastie Boys tunes. The panel awarded $1.7 million in damages, a decision that U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer refused to toss out after Monster Energy challenged the outcome.

In January, the Beastie Boys filed a motion seeking additional payment to cover legal costs charged by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, the law firm that represented the band.

The Beastie Boys argued that extensive pre-trial preparations and ensuing trial presentation of evidence justified an award requiring Monster Energy to shoulder the legal tab. The company contended the total was excessive.

"Here, the Court's review of Sheppard Mullin's bills suggests that the Beastie Boys opted to pay for, and received, the Cadillac Escalade, not the Honda Civic," Engelmayer wrote in his 45-page decision trimming the legal costs shifted onto Monster Energy.

The ruling cited examples in which several partners from the band's law firm apparently collaborated on the same tasks. Law firm partners typically charge higher per-hour billing rates than their associates and other personnel.

"It was the Beastie boys' prerogative to commission or approve such staffing," wrote Engelmayer. "But the issue for this court is whether it is reasonable to shift the resulting fees to Monster, their adversary. And there is ample authority ... for reducing a fee award where the legal hours recorded by plaintiffs' counsel fell unusually heavily on partners with high hourly rates."