David R. Ruiz, United States of America, Plaintiff-Intervenor-Appellee v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections

ALVIN B. RUBIN, Circuit Judge:

The State of Texas and its Director of Corrections appeal an award of attorney’s fees made in a class action by prisoner-representatives of prisoners confined in the Texas state prison system. Upon withdrawal of one of their attorneys from the case, the plaintiffs sought to recover from defendants the attorney’s fees for (a) obtaining and enforcing orders issued by the district court for the protection of the plaintiffs and the class pendente lite; (b) obtaining certification of the class; and (c) opposing defendants’ motion to dismiss the United States from the…