The Secretary of Labor "at the request of the complainant shall assess against the person against whom an order is issued a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses (including attorneys' and expert witness fees) reasonably incurred, as determined by the Secretary, by the complainant for, or in connection with, the bringing of the complaint upon which the order was issued." 42 U.S.C.A. § 5851(b)(2)(B). We granted the Complainant 20 days from the date of our Decision and Order to submit to this Board an itemized petition for additional attorneys' fees and other litigation expenses incurred on or after June 10, 1999, and directed the Complainant to serve the petition on the Respondent, who was given 30 days after issuance of our Decision and Order to file objections to the petition with the Board. The Complainant filed his petition on January 3, 2003. The Respondent did not object to the fee petition.

   The Government Accountability Project (GAP) represented the Complainant during the appeal process. GAP has submitted a fully itemized and documented fee petition for work performed on the appeal of the ALJ's decision. Although the Respondent has not opposed the petition, we review it for legal sufficiency.

   The Secretary employs the lodestar method to calculate attorneys' fees, which requires multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended in bringing the litigation by a reasonable hourly rate. Jenkins v. EPA, No. 92-CAA-6, electronic slip op. at 2 (Sec'y Dec. 7, 1994), citing Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433 (1983).

   The party seeking a fee award must submit evidence documenting the hours worked and the rates claimed. As we noted, when reviewing the ALJ's award of attorneys' fees below, "complainant's attorney fee petition must include ‘adequate evidence concerning a reasonable hourly fee for the type of work the attorney performed and consistent [with] practice in the local geographic area,' as well as records identifying the date, time, and duration necessary to accomplish each specific activity, and all claimed costs." Gutierrez v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal., ARB No. 99-116, ALJ No. 98-ERA-19, electronic slip op. at 11 (ARB Nov. 13, 2002). See also Moder v. Village of Jackson, Wis., ARB Nos. 01-095, 02-039, ALJ No. 2000-WPC-5 (ARB Oct. 28, 2003); Fabricius v. Town of Braintree/Park Dep't, ARB No. 97-144, ALJ No. 1997-CAA-14 (ARB Feb. 9, 1999). If the documentation of hours is inadequate, the award may be reduced accordingly. Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. at 433. We find the level of detail in the descriptions of the services provided contained in GAP's petition to be adequate.

   GAP has claimed an hourly rate of $200 to $250 for its attorney, based upon the level of his or her experience. We find that an hourly rate of $200 to be appropriate for Ms. Gold. We find an hourly rate of $250 appropriate for Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Taylor based upon their years of practice and expertise. An hourly rate of $50 for Ms. Sherman is appropriate.

   Although the Complainant lost the award of compensatory damages, he still achieved significant remedies and remains the prevailing party. We decline to make a downward adjustment for work performed on the now-unsuccessful argument concerning compensatory damages. See Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. at 435 (attorneys' fees should not be reduced simply because plaintiff failed to prevail on every contention raised, where plaintiff obtains otherwise an excellent result). Cf. Pogue v. United States Dep't of the Navy, No. 87-ERA-21, electronic slip op. at 14 (Sec'y Apr. 14, 1994) (Labor Secretary rejected respondent's challenge to an award of attorneys' fees award in case where, although no damages were awarded, the complainant was more than minimally successful because the Secretary found a violation of the CERCLA and because discriminatory disciplinary actions were ordered expunged and the complainant was awarded a retroactive within grade increase, transfer to a comparable job and training).

   We thus GRANT the Complainant's unopposed petition for attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $19,294.55.

   SO ORDERED.

      WAYNE C. BEYER
      Administrative Appeals Judge

      OLIVER M. TRANSUE
      Administrative Appeals Judge