Civil Procedure 54 governs the award of costs in cases brought in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 1920; Fed. R. Civ. P. 54. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54 permits claims for costs when a court has entered “a decree [or] any order from which an appeal lies.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54. An appeal arises from a final judgment. See 28 U.S.C. § 1291. “Section 1291 defines a final judgment as a decision by the district court that ends the litigation on the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.” eds Adjusters, Inc. v. Computer Scis. Corp., 149 F.R.D. 86, 88 (E.D.Pa.1993) (citing Lauro Lines, s.r.l. v. Chasser, 490 U.S. 495, 497, 109 S.Ct. 1976, 104 L.Ed.2d 548 (1989)). Furthermore, “a district court may in its discretion award attorne 28899 (E.D.Pa. Sept. 9, 2009) (<HOLDING>). b. 28 U.S.C. § 1927 28 U.S.C. § 1927 provides
holding that where the plaintiffs copyright infringement claim was without a reasonable legal basis an award of attorneys fees to the defendants was a proper exercise of judicial discretion holding that a public administrator was not entitled to attorneys fees in a claim against the estate of a former guardian where the case was not one where attorneys fees were authorized and there was no evidence to support the award holding that an award of attorneys fees under supreme court rule 38 precursor to rule 222 did not preempt an award of attorneys fees to which one is otherwise entitled and thus appellant could seek an award of attorneys fees pursuant to section 1577300 which permits an award of fees for a party prevailing in an action against a state agency holding that plaintiffs equal protection conspiracy claim which was the basis of the lawsuit was groundless and thus defendants were entitled to an award of attorneys fees holding that on the basis of usages and principles of equity plaintiff was entitled to recover his attorneys fees to defend prior lawsuit because the expenses were caused by the defendants wrongful act