(a) DEFINITION; FORM. "Judgment" as used in these rules includes a decree and any order from which an appeal lies. A judgment should not include recitals of pleadings, a master’s report, or a record of prior proceedings.
Rule 54.Judgment; Costs
Group VII: Judgment · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 54 defines what counts as a judgment, lets the court finalize judgment on part of a multi-claim or multi-party case only with an express finding that no reason justifies delay, and sets the deadlines and procedure for taxing costs and moving for attorney's fees.
Full Text of Rule 54
(b) JUDGMENT ON MULTIPLE CLAIMS OR INVOLVING MULTIPLE PARTIES. When an action presents more than one claim for relief—whether as a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim—or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct entry of a final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims or parties only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay. Otherwise, any order or other decision, however designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties does not end the action as to any of the claims or parties and may be revised at any time before the entry of a judgment adjudicating all the claims and all the parties’ rights and liabilities.
(c) DEMAND FOR JUDGMENT; RELIEF TO BE GRANTED. A default judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, what is demanded in the pleadings. Every other final judgment should grant the relief to which each party is entitled, even if the party has not demanded that relief in its pleadings.
(d) COSTS; ATTORNEY’S FEES.
(1) Costs Other Than Attorneys' Fees. Unless an applicable statute, these rules, or a court order provides otherwise, costs—other than attorney’s fees—should be allowed to the prevailing party. But costs against the United States, the District of Columbia, or officers and agencies of either may be imposed only to the extent allowed by law. The clerk may tax costs on 14 days’ notice. On motion served within the next 7 days, the court may review the clerk’s action.
(2) Attorneys' Fees.
(A) Claims to Be by Motion. A claim for attorney’s fees and related nontaxable expenses must be made by motion unless the substantive law requires those fees to be proved at trial as an element of damages.
(B) Timing and Contents of the Motion. Unless a statute or a court order provides otherwise, the motion must:
(i) be filed no later than 14 days after the entry of judgment;
(ii) specify the judgment and the statute, rule, or other grounds entitling the movant to the award;
(iii) state the amount sought or provide a fair estimate of it; and
(iv) disclose, if the court so orders, the terms of any agreement about fees for the services for which the claim is made.
(C) Proceedings. Subject to Rule 23(h), the court must, on a party’s request, give an opportunity for adversary submissions on the motion in accordance with Rule 12-I or 43(f). The court may decide issues of liability for fees before receiving submissions on the value of services. The court must find the facts and state its conclusions of law as provided in Rule 52(a).
(D) Reference to a Magistrate Judge or a Master. The following rules govern reference to a magistrate judge or a master:
(i) The Chief Judge may refer a motion for attorney's fees to a magistrate judge under Rule 73 as if it were a dispositive pretrial matter.
(ii) The court may refer issues concerning the value of services to a special master under Rule 53 without regard to the limitations of Rule 53(a)(2).
(E) Exceptions. Rule 54(d)(2)(A)–(D) do not apply to claims for fees and expenses as sanctions for violating these rules.
Comment
This rule is substantially similar to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54, as amended in 2007 and 2009, but maintains the following local distinctions: 1) in subsection (d)(1), “applicable statute” has been substituted for “federal statute” and a reference to District of Columbia and its officers or agencies has been added; 2) in subsection (d)(2)(C), the reference to Rule 78 has been replaced with a reference to Rule 12-I; 3) subsection (d)(2)(D) has been modified to reflect local practice; and 4) in subsection (d)(2)(E), the reference to 28 U.S.C. § 1927 has been omitted.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 54(a) defines "judgment" broadly, to include a decree and any order an appeal can be taken from, but it also says what a judgment shouldn't be: padded with recitals of the pleadings, a master's report, or the record of prior proceedings. Rule 54(b) then addresses cases with more than one claim or more than one party. The court can direct entry of final judgment on fewer than all the claims or parties, but only if it expressly finds no just reason for delay; without that finding, any ruling that decides less than everything doesn't end the action and stays open to revision at any time before a judgment covers every claim and every party's rights and liabilities.
Rule 54(c) sets limits on what a judgment can award. A default judgment can't differ in kind, or exceed in amount, what the pleadings demanded — a real constraint tied directly to Rule 55's default procedure. Every other final judgment, by contrast, should grant a party the relief it has earned, even relief the party never specifically asked for in its pleadings.
Rule 54(d) covers costs and fees. Costs other than attorney's fees go to the prevailing party unless a statute, these rules, or a court order says otherwise, though costs against the United States, the District of Columbia, or their officers and agencies only follow when the law allows it. The clerk taxes costs on 14 days' notice, and any party can move within the following 7 days to have the court review that action. A claim for attorney's fees has to come by motion, unless the substantive law treats the fees as an element of damages to be proved at trial, and that motion is due no later than 14 days after judgment, has to identify the judgment and the legal basis for the award, and must state the amount sought or a fair estimate of it. The parties get an opportunity for adversary submissions, the court can decide questions of liability for fees before turning to the value of the services, and any ruling has to include the findings and conclusions Rule 52(a) requires. The Chief Judge can send a fee motion to a magistrate judge to handle as a dispositive matter, and the court can send questions about the value of services to a master without the usual limits on what a master may be appointed to do — though none of this procedure applies to a fee claim made as a sanction for violating the rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "judgment" under Rule 54?
Any decree or order that an appeal can be taken from, under Rule 54(a). The rule also says a judgment shouldn't include recitals of the pleadings, a master's report, or the record of prior proceedings.
Can the court finalize judgment on some claims while others in the same case are still pending?
Yes, but only if the court expressly determines there's no just reason for delay. Otherwise, under Rule 54(b), a ruling that decides less than every claim or every party doesn't end the action and can be revised at any time before a final judgment covering everything.
Can a default judgment award more than what the complaint demanded?
No. Rule 54(c) bars a default judgment from differing in kind or exceeding in amount what the pleadings demanded, though any other final judgment can grant relief a party earned even without having specifically demanded it.
How long do I have to file a motion for attorney's fees after judgment?
No later than 14 days after judgment is entered, unless a statute or court order sets a different deadline, and the motion must specify the judgment, the grounds for the fee award, and the amount sought or a fair estimate.
How do I challenge the costs the clerk taxed against me?
The clerk taxes costs on 14 days' notice, and Rule 54(d)(1) lets any party move within the following 7 days to have the court review the clerk's action.
Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are
reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: dc motion for attorney's fees deadlinetaxing costs dc superior courtpartial final judgment dc rule 54default judgment relief demanded dc