Cases: Section 1717

Equitable Servitude in an Amended Declaration if a Contract Under Civil Code Section 1717.          In DeBevoise v. Robinson, Case Nos. D078207/D078679 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Dec. 29, 2022) (unpublished), neighbors got involved in an equitable easement dispute, with plaintiffs/cross-defendants getting equitable easement relief and also obtaining a prevailing party contractual fees award under an […]

No Vital Public Policy Argument Presented To Prevent The Waiver Conclusion.             One of the most fundamental rules of appellate advocacy is waiver.  Generally, if an argument or objection is not presented at the trial court level, the appellate court will not review it.   The appellate court does have discretion to review a question of

Award Was The Defense “Full Ask.”             After plaintiff lost a real estate case at the trial court level, the judge awarded the defense $360,965.50 in contractual attorney’s fees, the full ask of the defense in Tri-west Homes II, LP v. Ostayan, Case No. B307708 (2d Dist., Div. 2 Dec. 21, 2022) (unpublished).  The merits

It Was Irrelevant Who Paid The Fees, Law Of The Case Sustained The Award Based On Earlier Appellate Opinion, And Duty To Defend Ruling Was “On The Contract.”             In Sierra Pacific Properties, Inc. v. Otis Elevator Co., Case Nos. A162854 et al. (1st Dist., Div. 5 Nov. 21, 2022) (unpublished), Otis Elevator was not

Mandamus Was “On The Contract” Under Section 1717 And Decision Was Final To Defeat Prematurity Argument.             In The Traveler Indemnity Co. v. Lara, Case No. B306897 (2d Dist., Div. 7 Nov. 3, 2022) (published), insurance company lost an Insurance Commissioner administrative mandate proceeding concerning whether certain workers compensation agreements issued to it were unenforceable vis-à-vis

After All, Defendants Did Show The Contract Was Inapplicable To Them, Such That The Hsu Decision Governed.             One of our leading cases is Hsu v. Abbara, 9 Cal.4th 863, 870 [Leading Case #2] holds that a party is entitled to Civil Code section 1717 attorney’s fees when the party prevails on grounds the contract

Neither Legal Entitlement Nor Fee Amount Arguments Prevailed On Appeal.             Plaintiff subcontractor brought a third-party beneficiary action against general contractor which was resolved adversely on res judicata and statute of limitations grounds in a situation where there was a subcontract with a contractual fees clause encompassing “actual” attorney’s fees incurred.  With a few subtractions

Premature Award Of $1.1 Million In Fees By Group Of Plaintiffs Reversed.             A group of tenant plaintiffs in Chen v. Valstock Ventures, LLC, Case No. A161885 (1st Dist., Div. 4 July 29, 2022) (published) won about $1.1 million in an interim fee award against a defendant after winning a summary adjudication motion on their

4/1 DCA Affirms Fee Award Where Pleadings Made It Clear That Redlined Draft Agreement Was The Operative Contract By Losing Plaintiff.             Plaintiff lost a demurrer without leave founded upon contractual breach, duty to negotiate in good faith, and promissory estoppel claims, a determination affirmed on appeal because the letter of intent made it clear