Sixth District Gives a Primer on RFA Expenses and Routine Costs Awards. Berkman v. City of Morgan Hill, Case No. H032205 (6th Dist. Sept. 28, 2010) (unpublished) is a virtual primer on the standards to be met to recover fees/expenses under the request for admission sanctions statute codified at Code of Civil Procedure section […]
Second District, Division 1 So Holds in Unpublished Decision. Kamhout v. The Von Companies, Inc., Case No. B208927 (2d Dist., Div. 1 Sept. 28, 2010) (unpublished) is a good reminder of the deadlines in which a winning litigant must file a costs memorandum. Unless a party or court clerk mails out a proper
Second District, Division 4 Orders Denial of Motion to Tax Costs. Civil Code section 1717 applies to fee award requests, not an award of routine costs. If a memorandum of costs itemizes routine costs authorized by statute (such as filing fees, process service fees, and exhibit copying expenses), the burden is on the
Second District, Division 3 Applies Clear Law in this Area. In Greene v. Minuteman Parking Co., Case No. B218223 (2d Dist., Div. 3 Sept. 22, 2010) (unpublished), the trial court awarded defendant $520 in routine costs after an in pro per plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his action. Plaintiff appealed, but the reviewing court concluded
Beyond That, Losing Defendant Did Not Present Evidence or Argument on Which Particular Costs Should Be Stricken. In Smith v. Pneumo Abex LLC, Case No. B217063 (2d Dist., Div. 3 Sept. 17, 2010) (unpublished), plaintiffs obtained a sizable jury verdict for husband’s alleged exposure to asbestos for products manufactured by several defendants. Many of
CRC 1700(b)(2) Provides the Governing Rule. In Kelman v. Kramer, Case No. D054496 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Sept. 14, 2010) (unpublished), defendant lost a libel suit to a mold expert plaintiff, who was awarded $1 nominal damages and $7,252.65 in costs as the prevailing party. However, defendant recovered $2,545.28 in costs for prevailing against
Presiding Justice Perluss, on behalf of the same panel of the Second District, Division 7 (yet in two separate unpublished decisions), gives us some good teachings on routine costs and Code of Civil Procedure section 998 issues. Costs: Mixed Result Means Prevailing Party Determination is in Lower Court’s Discretion. In Cordier v. Swanson
First District, Division 4 Discusses Brandt And Routine Costs In Catholic Priest Molestation Insurance Dispute. Howard v. American National Fire Ins. Co., Case Nos. A121569 & A123187 (1st Dist., Div. 4 Aug. 11, 2010) (certified for publication) is a virtual primer for insurance litigators, involving substantial upholding of a substantial bench trial award against
Second District, Division Four Reversed Costs Denial, Affirmed Fees Denial. The next case shows that courts pragmatically gauge prevailing party status when in comes to fees and costs awards—costs may be mandatory upon a voluntary dismissal, but not necessarily an award of attorney’s fees in the same circumstance (with the fees award being the
First District, Division 5, Except for a $49 Adjustment, Tells Everyone to Go Home But For a Minor $1,000 Appellate Sanctions. Salvio Street, LLC v. Lee, Case Nos. A122408/A123080 (1st Dist., Div. 5 July 29, 2010) (unpublished) is an interesting case, not just for the legal issues, but because it demonstrates how pragmatic appellate
