Cases: Costs

Costs, Experts, Section 998: Trial Court’s Costs Award To Prevailing Plaintiffs, Which Accounted For Costs From Two Trials Where First Trial Resulted In Mistrial Due To Plaintiffs’ Counsel, Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Costs, Cases: Experts, Cases: Section 998

Trial Court’s Order Awarding Costs Did Not Operate As An Improper Reconsideration Of A Previous Order, And Defendants Failed To Support With Any Authority Their Contention That Plaintiffs Could Not Recover Fees Where Their Attorney Caused Mistrial.             In Esparza v. Win Distribution, Case No. E072880 (4th Dist., Div. 2 October 25, 2021) (unpublished), the […]

Appealability, Costs, Deadlines: $10,800 Costs Recovery To Certain Defendants After Plaintiff Dismissed Case Without Prejudice And Refiled In Texas Was Not Erroneous

Cases: Appealability, Cases: Costs, Cases: Deadlines

4/3 DCA Sides With The View That A Costs Award Entered After A Voluntary, Without Prejudice Dismissal Is Appealable.             In Thomas v. St. Joseph Health System, Case No. G059408 (4th Dist., Div. 3 Oct. 20, 2021) (unpublished), plaintiff doctor sued certain health care defendants in Orange County Superior Court for interference/unfair competition.  Certain defendants

Costs, Section 998, Special Fee Shifting Statutes: No Abuse Of Discretion In Attorney Fees And Costs Award Of $1,454,938.70 Against One Of Three Defendants, Without Apportionment, In Wrongful Death Case

Cases: Costs, Cases: Section 998, Cases: Special Fee Shifting Statutes

Apportionment Of Attorney Fees Was Not Feasible As Plaintiffs’ Efforts Against The Defendants Were Inextricably Intertwined,  And The Case Could Not Have Been Presented Without Significant Expert Testimony To Determine Who Was Legally Responsible.             In Hatcher v. Powell, Case No. B302730 (2d Dist., Div. 6 September 27, 2021) (unpublished), four defendants were sued in

Common Fund, Costs: Trope Limitation Prevents Self-Represented Attorney From Obtaining Fees Under Common Fund Theory, But Routine Costs Are Awardable

Cases: Common Fund, Cases: Costs

The 2/6 DCA, in a scholarly opinion written by Justice Yegan, faced the questions of whether a self-represented attorney, who was also the winning party, could seek recovery of attorney’s fees and costs under the nonstatutory common fund theory.  Different answers were the conclusions on the two issues.             In Leiper v. Gallegos, Case No.

Costs: No Oral Hearing Required On Appellate Costs Motion

Cases: Costs

Nice Dissection Of Appellate Routine Costs, Which Were Allowed.             No reason for us to discuss in detail the case of Pacheco v. Tuttle, Case No. B302508 (2d Dist., Div. 3 Sept. 22, 2021) (unpublished), unless trial and appellate practitioners want to dive in the weeds, given that an appellate costs award of $1,627 was

Costs, Prevailing Party: Where Neither A Plaintiff Nor A Cross-Complainant Obtains Any Relief, Defendant Is The Prevailing Party For Costs, Absent A Costs Waiver

Cases: Costs, Cases: Prevailing Party

May Sound Quirky, But It Is The Law!             In Bernstein v. Sebring, Case No. C088375 (3d Dist. Sept. 21, 2021) (unpublished), plaintiff/cross-defendant and defendant/cross-complainant partially settled some claims (where costs were waived) but proceeded to trial on some remaining claims.  The trial judge ultimately dismissed plaintiff’s complaint, and defendant voluntarily dismissed his remaining cross-claim. 

Costs, Deadlines, Experts, Section 998: 4/2 DCA Dismisses Defendants’ Cross-Appeal Of Trial Court’s Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion To Tax Majority Of $139,951.97 In Costs And Fees Sought By Defendants Under § 998

Cases: Costs, Cases: Deadlines, Cases: Experts, Cases: Section 998

Defendants’ Cross-Appeal Was Untimely, And A Separate Appeal, Not A Cross-Appeal, Was Required For Challenging Trial Court’s Order As It Related To Defendants’ Request For Expert Witness Fees.             In Ramirez v. Barajas, Case No. E071558 (4th Dist., Div. 2 September 13, 2021) (unpublished), personal injury plaintiff, suing defendants for $1.4 million in damages, rejected

Common Fund, Costs, Special Fee Shifting Statutes: 4/3 DCA Affirms Large Part Of Trial Judge’s Fee And Costs Rulings In Financial Elder Abuse/Derivative Litigation

Cases: Common Fund, Cases: Costs, Cases: Special Fee Shifting Statutes

Hornet Nest Of Fees And Costs Issues Resolved By Appellate Court.             We knew right away that Acting Presiding Justice Bedsworth penned Horowitz v. Brown, Case No. G057412 (4th Dist., Div. 3 Aug. 30, 2021) (unpublished) based on his distinctive writing style.  The appellate court faced a virtual hornet nest of fees and costs issues,

Costs, Deadlines, Fee Clause Interpretation, Lodestar: L.A. Groundwater Case Fee And Costs Awards Remanded For A Revisit By The Fifth District

Cases: Costs, Cases: Deadlines, Cases: Fee Clause Interpretation, Cases: Lodestar

Variety Of Costs, Fee Entitlement, And Lodestar Issues Explored In This Unpublished Opinion.             Antelope Valley Groundwater Cases, Case No. F083138 (5th Dist. Aug. 24, 2021) (unpublished) was a Los Angeles-venued case which produced a global settlement complete with a provision for certain parties to bear attorney’s fees and costs by class counsel.  Class counsel

Appeal Sanctions, Costs: 2/4 DCA Denies Requests From Prevailing Party In A Writ Proceeding For Attorney Fees To Be Included As Part Of Costs Award And For An Award Of Fees As A Sanction Against Defeated Party

Cases: Appeal Sanctions, Cases: Costs

Attorney Fees Are Not Included As Recoverable Costs Under California Rules Of Court, Rules 8.493(b) And 8.278(d), And A Passing Reference To An Award Of Fees As Sanctions, With No Showing Of Justification For Sanctions, Does Not Qualify As A Motion For Sanctions Under Rule 8.492(a).             In Harden v. Superior Court, Case No. B311738

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