Title: Ex parte Loma Alta Property Owners Association, Inc. PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS (In re: Carol Mahoney v. Loma Alta Property Owners Association, Inc.)

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL: 06/30/2010 
Notice: T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1081170 
Ex p a r t e Loma A l t a P r o p e r t y Owners A s s o c i a t i o n , Inc. 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI 
TO THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS 
( I n r e : 
C a r o l Mahoney 
v. 
Loma A l t a P r o p e r t y Owners A s s o c i a t i o n , I n c . ) 
(Baldwin C i r c u i t Court, CV-06-415; 
Court o f C i v i l Appeals, 2080192) 
SMITH, 
J u s t i c e . 
1081170 
Loma A l t a 
P r o p e r t y Owners A s s o c i a t i o n , 
I n c . ("LAPOA"), 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s 
C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i t o r e v i e w t h e 
d e c i s i o n o f t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s 
r e v e r s i n g t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s 
d e n i a l 
o f C a r o l Mahoney's 
c l a i m 
u n d e r t h e A l a b a m a 
L i t i g a t i o n 
A c c o u n t a b i l i t y A c t , § 12-19-270 e t s e q . , 
A l a . Code 
1975 
("the A L A A " ) . 
See Mahoney v . Loma A l t a 
P r o p . 
Owners 
A s s ' n , [Ms. 2 0 8 0 1 9 2 , M a r c h 27, 200 
9] 
So. 3d 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 
2009) ("Mahoney 
I I " ) . 
We g r a n t e d 
c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w t o 
c o n s i d e r , 
as a m a t e r i a l 
q u e s t i o n o f 
f i r s t 
i m p r e s s i o n , t h e 
a p p r o p r i a t e a p p e l l a t e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w f o r t h e d e n i a l o f a 
c l a i m made u n d e r t h e ALAA. 
We a l s o g r a n t e d c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w 
t o 
c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r 
t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
d e c i s i o n 
c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h D i c k e r s o n v . D i c k e r s o n , 885 So. 2d 160 ( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 2 0 0 3 ) . 
We a d o p t t h e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w a p p l i e d b y 
t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s i n Mahoney I I , and we c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h i s 
c a s e i s d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e 
f r o m D i c k e r s o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , we 
a f f i r m t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s . 
F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
LAPOA and C a r o l Mahoney ("Mahoney") b o t h 
s t i p u l a t e 
t h a t 
t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
o p i n i o n i n Mahoney v . Loma 
A l t a  
P r o p e r t y Owners A s s ' n , 
4 So. 3d 1130 ( A l a . 
C i v . App. 2008 
) 
2 
1081170 
("Mahoney 
I " ) , c o r r e c t l y s e t s o u t t h e f a c t s and 
p r o c e d u r a l 
h i s t o r y i n t h e u n d e r l y i n g 
c a s e . 
T h a t o p i n i o n 
s t a t e s : 
"[LAPOA] 
s u e d 
C a r o l 
Mahoney 
i n t h e 
B a l d w i n 
D i s t r i c t C o u r t , c l a i m i n g b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t , 
a c c o u n t 
s t a t e d , 
and a p r o p e r t y - o w n e r s - a s s o c i a t i o n 
l i e n 
on 
r e a l e s t a t e o c c u p i e d by Mahoney. 
LAPOA a l l e g e d 
t h a t 
Ms. Mahoney was t h e owner o f u n i t C-1 i n Loma A l t a 
Townhomes; 
t h a t Ms. Mahoney was, t h e r e f o r e , b o u n d b y 
an 
a g r e e m e n t 
c o n t a i n e d 
w i t h i n 
t h e c o n d o m i n i u m 
d e c l a r a t i o n 
f o r t h e Loma A l t a 
s u b d i v i s i o n t o p a y 
p r o p e r t y - o w n e r s - a s s o c i a t i o n 
f e e s , 
a s s e s s m e n t s , and 
l a t e c h a r g e s ; and t h a t Ms. Mahoney h a d f a i l e d t o p a y 
t h o s e 
f e e s , 
a s s e s s m e n t s , 
and 
c h a r g e s . 
LAPOA 
a s s e r t e d 
t h a t i t was 
e n t i t l e d t o r e c o v e r 
f r o m Ms. 
Mahoney 
damages, 
i n c l u d i n g 
l a t e 
f e e s , 
i n t e r e s t , 
c o s t s , and an a t t o r n e y 
f e e , and t o h a v e a l i e n on 
t h e 
r e a l e s t a t e o c c u p i e d by Ms. Mahoney. 
"Ms. Mahoney a n s w e r e d t h e c o m p l a i n t , 
a d m i t t e d 
t h a t 
she 
'owe[d] some money, 
b u t n o t t h e 
t o t a l 
amount 
c l a i m e d 
by 
[ L A P O A ] , ' and a s s e r t e d 
t h a t 
she 
was e n t i t l e d t o a s e t o f f b e c a u s e LAPOA h a d f a i l e d t o 
make n e e d e d r e p a i r s on t h e u n i t . 
On A p r i l 11, 2006, 
t h e 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f 
LAPOA 
i n t h e amount o f $5, 
390 
, p l u s 
c o s t s 
and an 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e o f $500. 
Ms. Mahoney 
a p p e a l e d 
t h a t 
j u d g m e n t t o t h e B a l d w i n 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t on A p r i l 25, 
2006, f o r a t r i a l de n o v o . 
"On May 19, 2006, Ms. Mahoney 
f i l e d an amended 
a n s w e r i n t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , 
g e n e r a l l y d e n y i n g t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
o f LAPOA's 
c o m p l a i n t 
and 
a s s e r t i n g , 
among o t h e r 
t h i n g s , t h a t she d i d 
n o t h a v e a c o n t r a c t 
w i t h 
LAPOA. 
I n a d d i t i o n , Ms. Mahoney 
a s s e r t e d 
a 
c l a i m 
u n d e r t h e A l a b a m a L i t i g a t i o n 
A c c o u n t a b i l i t y 
A c t 
('ALAA'), § 12-19-270 e t s e q . , A l a . Code 1975. 
On December 2 1 , 2006, LAPOA amended i t s c o m p l a i n t , 
n a m i n g Ms. Mahoney's f o r m e r h u s b a n d , J o s e p h Mahoney, 
as a d e f e n d a n t . 
LAPOA a l l e g e d t h a t Mr. Mahoney was 
t h e 
'owner' o f u n i t C-1 i n Loma A l t a Townhomes and 
3 
1081170 
t h a t 
Ms. 
Mahoney 
was 
a 
' r e s i d e n t ' 
o f 
t h e 
u n i t . 
LAPOA a l s o a d d e d a c l a i m a l l e g i n g t h a t , by v i r t u e o f 
t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
o f 
i t s 
p r o p e r t y - o w n e r s - a s s o c i a t i o n 
l i e n , 
i t was 
e n t i t l e d t o have Ms. 
Mahoney 
' e v i c t e d ' 
f r o m u n i t 
C-1. 
"The 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
c o n d u c t e d 
a b e n c h 
t r i a l 
on 
J a n u a r y 
26, 
2007, 
a t w h i c h 
o n l y 
one 
w i t n e s s - - M a r y 
G a r e y , 
t h e 
s e c r e t a r y / t r e a s u r e r 
o f 
LAPOA 
-¬
t e s t i f i e d . 
G a r e y 
e x p l a i n e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y -
o w n e r s - a s s o c i a t i o n 
f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s 
r e p r e s e n t 
t h e u n i t o w n e r s ' p r o p o r t i o n a t e 
s h a r e o f t h e 
c o s t 
o f 
m a i n t a i n i n g 
and 
p r e s e r v i n g 
t h e common a r e a s o f 
t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m . 
G a r e y 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
Ms. 
Mahoney 
had 
r e s i d e d 
i n u n i t C-1 
o f 
t h e c o n d o m i n i u m s i n c e 
M a r c h 
2000 
and 
t h a t 
she 
h a d 
p a i d 
some 
o f 
t h e 
f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s 
b u t 
t h a t 
she 
had 
s t o p p e d 
p a y i n g , 
c o n t e n d i n g t h a t 
she 
was 
e n t i t l e d t o s e t o f f 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
b a l a n c e 
t h e 
c o s t 
o f n e e d e d 
r e p a i r s 
t h a t LAPOA 
had 
f a i l e d 
t o make 
on 
t h e 
u n i t 
Ms. 
Mahoney 
was 
o c c u p y i n g . 
G a r e y 
s t a t e d 
t h a t , 
a c c o r d i n g 
t o 
t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m d e c l a r a t i o n , r e p a i r s t o 
a u n i t a r e 
t h e 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
o f 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l 
u n i t 
owner, 
n o t 
LAPOA. 
G a r e y 
i d e n t i f i e d 
a document 
s h o w i n g 
t h e 
p a s t - d u e 
f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s 
t h a t , LAPOA 
c l a i m e d , 
were owed by Ms. 
Mahoney. 
G a r e y t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
Ms. 
Mahoney had n e v e r r e t u r n e d 
t h e i n v o i c e s f o r f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s 
t o 
G a r e y 
w i t h 
a 
r e q u e s t 
t h a t 
t h e 
i n v o i c e s 
be 
f o r w a r d e d 
t o 
someone 
e l s e . 
N o r , 
a c c o r d i n g 
t o G a r e y , 
had 
Ms. 
Mahoney e v e r 
i n f o r m e d 
LAPOA 
t h a t 
she 
was 
n o t 
t h e 
owner 
o f 
t h e 
u n i t 
i n 
w h i c h 
she 
r e s i d e d . 
G a r e y 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t LAPOA, 
by 
v i r t u e 
o f i t s c o n t r a c t 
w i t h 
t h e owner o f e a c h u n i t , 
has 
a 
l i e n 
on 
any 
u n i t 
f o r w h i c h 
t h e r e 
a r e 
u n p a i d 
f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s . 
G a r e y 
s a i d 
t h a t LAPOA 
had 
f o r e c l o s e d 
i t s l i e n 
on u n i t 
C-1.
1 
"On 
c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n , 
G a r e y a c k n o w l e d g e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
owner 
o f 
e a c h 
u n i t 
i s 
s o l e l y 
r e s p o n s i b l e 
f o r 
payment o f t h e p r o p e r t y - o w n e r s - a s s o c i a t i o n 
f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s . 
G a r e y a d m i t t e d t h a t LAPOA had 
no 
d e e d 
s h o w i n g t h a t 
Ms. 
Mahoney was 
t h e owner o f 
t h e 
u n i t 
4 
1081170 
i n 
w h i c h 
she 
r e s i d e d , 
t h a t LAPOA had 
no 
c o n t r a c t 
w i t h 
Ms. 
Mahoney, 
and 
t h a t LAPOA had 
no 
document 
s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
someone 
o t h e r 
t h a n 
t h e 
owner 
o f 
t h e 
u n i t 
was 
r e s p o n s i b l e 
f o r payment 
o f 
t h e 
f e e s 
and 
a s s e s s m e n t s 
on 
t h e 
u n i t t h a t Ms. 
Mahoney 
o c c u p i e d . 
On r e d i r e c t e x a m i n a t i o n , 
G a r e y a f f i r m e d t h e t r u t h o f 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
i n q u i r y 
by 
LAPOA's 
c o u n s e l : 
'We're 
s i m p l y 
a s k i n g 
[ t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ] 
t o 
c o n f i r m 
t h a t 
we've 
g o t 
a 
j u d g m e n t 
on 
t h i s 
u n i t , w h e t h e r i t ' s 
owned 
[by] 
Ms. 
Mahoney 
o r w h o e v e r 
i t i s , b e c a u s e 
t h a t u n i t has 
n o t p a i d any dues and 
a s s e s s m e n t s , i s 
t h a t 
r i g h t ? ' 
"The 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
a d m i t t e d 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
d o c u m e n t a r y 
e v i d e n c e 
o f f e r e d 
by 
LAPOA: 
(1) 
t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m 
d e c l a r a t i o n 
f o r 
t h e 
Loma 
A l t a 
s u b d i v i s i o n ; 
(2) 
a s t a t e m e n t 
o f 
f e e s , 
a s s e s s m e n t s , 
and 
l a t e 
c h a r g e s 
s e n t 
by LAPOA 
t o 
Ms. 
Mahoney 
on 
J a n u a r y 
24, 
2007, 
i n d i c a t i n g 
a 
b a l a n c e 
due 
o f 
$6,150; and 
(3) 
a ' S t a t e m e n t o f L i e n ' 
f i l e d 
i n 
t h e 
B a l d w i n 
P r o b a t e 
C o u r t 
on 
O c t o b e r 
4, 
2004, 
n a m i n g 
C a r o l Mahoney as 
t h e owner o f 
' L o t 
C-1, 
Loma 
A l t a , 
as r e c o r d e d 
i n Map 
Book 11, Page 176, 
i n t h e 
O f f i c e 
o f t h e J u d g e o f P r o b a t e , 
B a l d w i n C o u n t y , A l a b a m a . ' 
"At 
t h e 
c o n c l u s i o n 
o f G a r e y ' s t e s t i m o n y , 
LAPOA 
r e s t e d 
and 
Ms. 
Mahoney's 
c o u n s e l 
moved 
f o r 
a 
' d i r e c t e d v e r d i c t , '
2 a r g u i n g : 
" ' [ T ] h e r e ' s b e e n no p r o o f o f o w n e r s h i p 
[by] 
my 
c l i e n t , C a r o l Mahoney, ... 
o r t h a t s h e ' s 
b o u n d by any c o n t r a c t t h a t t h e y h a v e 
f a i l e d 
t o 
p r e s e n t 
i n 
c o u r t 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t 
s h e ' s 
r e s p o n s i b l e 
f o r a n y t h i n g 
"'[LAPOA 
has] 
gone 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
w r o n g 
p e r s o n , 
and 
t h a t ' s 
why 
we 
move 
f o r 
a 
d i r e c t e d 
v e r d i c t 
and 
a s k 
f o r 
a w a r d 
o f 
r e a s o n a b l e 
a t t o r n e y ' s 
f e e s 
f o r 
h a v i n g 
t o 
f i g h t 
t h i s . ' 
5 
1081170 
"The c i r c u i t 
c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n . 
On A p r i l 13, 
2007, t h e c o u r t e n t e r e d a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f LAPOA 
and 
a g a i n s t Ms. Mahoney i n t h e amount o f $6,279.10 
and a w a r d e d LAPOA an a t t o r n e y ' s f e e o f $ 5 , 0 0 0 . 
The 
c o u r t 
d i d 
n o t 
r u l e 
on 
Ms. 
Mahoney's 
ALAA 
c o u n t e r c l a i m , b u t we c o n c l u d e t h a t i t 
was 
i m p l i c i t l y 
d e n i e d . 
See H a r r i s v . Cook, 944 So. 2d 977 , 981 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 2 0 0 6 ) . 
On t h e same d a y , t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t e n t e r e d a d e f a u l t j u d g m e n t f o r 
t h e same amount 
i n 
f a v o r o f LAPOA and a g a i n s t J o s e p h Mahoney. 
Ms. 
Mahoney 
f i l e d 
a 
t i m e l y 
n o t i c e 
o f a p p e a l 
t o 
t h i s 
c o u r t on May 15, 2007. 
"
1 S e c t i o n 3 5 - 8 - 1 7 ( 4 ) , A l a . 
Code 1975, a p a r t o f 
a c h a p t e r 
e n t i t l e d 
'Condominium O w n e r s h i p , ' 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t 
' [ l ] i e n s 
f o r 
u n p a i d 
a s s e s s m e n t s 
may 
be 
f o r e c l o s e d b y an a c t i o n b r o u g h t i n t h e name o f t h e 
[ p r o p e r t y o w n e r s ' ] a s s o c i a t i o n i n t h e same manner as 
a f o r e c l o s u r e o f a m o r t g a g e on r e a l 
p r o p e r t y . ' 
"
2 I n 
a c t i o n s 
t r i e d 
w i t h o u t 
a j u r y , t h e p r o p e r 
m o t i o n i s one f o r a j u d g m e n t on p a r t i a l 
f i n d i n g s , 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 5 2 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . P." 
Mahoney I , 4 So. 3d a t 1 1 3 1 - 3 3 . 
I n Mahoney 
I t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
r e v e r s e d 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t o f t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
b e c a u s e , 
i t h e l d , LAPOA h a d 
f a i l e d 
t o p r e s e n t 
any e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
" i t h a d an 
e x p r e s s 
c o n t r a c t w i t h Ms. Mahoney o r t h a t i t 
h a d a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
e x p e c t a t i o n 
o f c o m p e n s a t i o n 
f r o m Ms. Mahoney on an 
i m p l i e d 
c o n t r a c t . " 
4 So. 3d a t 1 1 3 5 - 3 6 . 
The C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
remanded t h e a c t i o n t o t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r 
t h a t c o u r t t o v a c a t e 
i t s j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f LAPOA, t o e n t e r 
6 
1081170 
a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f Mahoney on LAPOA's c l a i m s , and t o t h e n 
a d j u d i c a t e Mahoney's c l a i m u n d e r t h e ALAA. 
See Mahoney I , 4 
So. 3d a t 1136. 
On remand t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t s u m m a r i l y 
d e n i e d Mahoney's 
ALAA c l a i m . 
Mahoney t h e n moved t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t , u n d e r R u l e 
5 9 ( e ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . P., t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e i t s 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g h e r ALAA c l a i m . 
The c i r c u i t c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n ; 
no 
t r a n s c r i p t 
a p p e a r s 
i n t h e r e c o r d f o r a h e a r i n g on t h e 
m o t i o n . 
Mahoney t h e n a p p e a l e d t h e j u d g m e n t d e n y i n g h e r ALAA 
c l a i m t o t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s . 
The C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s 
r e v e r s e d t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e 
c i r c u i t c o u r t , h o l d i n g t h a t " [ b ] e c a u s e LAPOA's c l a i m s a g a i n s t 
Ms. Mahoney were g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w , t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r 
d e n y i n g Ms. Mahoney's ALAA c l a i m i s r e v e r s e d , and t h e c a u s e i s 
remanded 
f o r t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t t o d e t e r m i n e 
an a p p r o p r i a t e 
a w a r d . " 
Mahoney I I , 
So. 3d a t 
. LAPOA t h e n 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
f o r c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w 
o f t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' d e c i s i o n . 
We g r a n t e d c e r t i o r a r i r e v i e w t o c o n s i d e r , 
as a m a t e r i a l q u e s t i o n o f f i r s t 
i m p r e s s i o n , t h e a p p r o p r i a t e 
a p p e l l a t e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w f o r t h e d e n i a l o f an ALAA 
c l a i m . 
We 
a l s o 
g r a n t e d 
c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t h e 
7 
1081170 
C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
d e c i s i o n 
c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h 
D i c k e r s o n , 
s u p r a . 
A n a l y s i s 
We 
f i r s t 
c o n s i d e r t h e a p p r o p r i a t e 
a p p e l l a t e s t a n d a r d o f 
r e v i e w f o r 
t h e d e n i a l o f a c l a i m b r o u g h t u n d e r t h e ALAA. 
The 
l e g i s l a t u r e 
e n a c t e d t h e ALAA i n 1987 t o d e t e r b a s e l e s s 
l e g a l 
a c t i o n . 
See P a c i f i c E n t e r s . O i l Co. (USA) v. H o w e l l P e t r o l e u m 
C o r p . , 614 So. 2d 409, 417 ( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . 
To e f f e c t u a t e 
t h i s 
p u r p o s e , t h e ALAA p r o v i d e s , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : 
" [ I ] n any c i v i l 
a c t i o n commenced o r a p p e a l e d i n any 
c o u r t 
o f 
r e c o r d 
i n t h i s 
s t a t e , t h e c o u r t 
s h a l l 
a w a r d , as p a r t o f i t s 
j u d g m e n t and i n a d d i t i o n t o 
any 
o t h e r 
c o s t s 
o t h e r w i s e 
a s s e s s e d , 
r e a s o n a b l e 
a t t o r n e y s ' 
f e e s and c o s t s 
a g a i n s t any a t t o r n e y o r 
p a r t y , o r b o t h , who h a s b r o u g h t a c i v i l 
a c t i o n , o r 
a s s e r t e d a c l a i m t h e r e i n , o r i n t e r p o s e d a d e f e n s e , 
t h a t a c o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e s t o be w i t h o u t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
j u s t i f i c a t i o n , 
e i t h e r i n w h o l e o r p a r t 
" 
§ 1 2 - 1 9 - 2 7 2 ( a ) , A l a . Code 1975. 
S e c t i o n 1 2 - 1 9 - 2 7 1 ( 1 ) 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t f o r an a c t i o n , c l a i m , d e f e n s e , o r a p p e a l t o be 
" w i t h o u t 
s u b s t a n t i a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n , " i t 
must be " f r i v o l o u s , 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n 
f a c t 
o r i n l a w , o r v e x a t i o u s , 
o r 
i n t e r p o s e d 
f o r any 
i m p r o p e r 
p u r p o s e , 
i n c l u d i n g 
w i t h o u t 
l i m i t a t i o n , 
t o 
c a u s e 
u n n e c e s s a r y 
d e l a y 
o r 
n e e d l e s s 
i n c r e a s e 
i n t h e 
c o s t 
o f 
l i t i g a t i o n , as d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e c o u r t . " 
8 
1081170 
O n l y when a c o u r t a w a r d s 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s u n d e r 
t h e ALAA 
must t h a t c o u r t 
" s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s e t f o r t h t h e r e a s o n s f o r s u c h 
a w a r d . " 
§ 1 2 - 1 9 - 2 7 3 , A l a . Code 1975. 
I f a c o u r t 
d e n i e s 
a 
c l a i m 
f o r a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
u n d e r 
t h e ALAA, 
t h a t 
c o u r t 
i s 
n o t 
r e q u i r e d 
t o 
s e t 
f o r t h 
r e a s o n s 
f o r i t s d e n i a l . 
I n 
P a c i f i c 
E n t e r p r i s e s 
t h i s C o u r t 
a d v i s e d : 
"[W]e 
w i l l r e q u i r e a t r i a l c o u r t m a k i n g t h e 
' w i t h o u t 
s u b s t a n t i a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n ' d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o make i t s 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , 
t h e g r o u n d o r g r o u n d s upon w h i c h i t 
r e l i e s , and t h e l e g a l o r e v i d e n t i a r y s u p p o r t 
f o r i t s 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , 
a 
p a r t 
o f 
t h e 
r e c o r d , 
e i t h e r 
by 
d r a f t i n g a s e p a r a t e w r i t t e n o r d e r o r by h a v i n g 
t h e s e 
f i n d i n g s t r a n s c r i b e d f o r t h e 
o f f i c i a l 
r e c o r d . " 
614 
So. 
2d a t 
418. 
The 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w 
on 
a p p e a l 
f r o m 
an 
a w a r d 
o f 
a t t o r n e y f e e s u n d e r t h e ALAA "depends upon t h e b a s i s f o r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n . " 
Morrow v. 
G i b s o n , 
827 
So. 
2d 
756, 
762 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) . 
I n 
P a c i f i c 
E n t e r p r i s e s , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e d , 
as an i s s u e o f 
f i r s t 
i m p r e s s i o n , 
t h a t 
" i f 
a t r i a l c o u r t d e t e r m i n e s t h a t a p a r t y ' s a c t i o n , 
c l a i m , 
o r 
d e f e n s e 
i s 
' w i t h o u t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
j u s t i f i c a t i o n , ' 
b a s e d 
on 
t h e 
a p p l i c a b i l i t y 
o f 
any 
one 
o f 
t h e s e 
t e r m s 
o r 
p h r a s e s 
[ ' f r i v o l o u s , ' 
' g r o u n d l e s s 
i n 
f a c t , ' 
' v e x a t i o u s , ' 
o r 
' i n t e r p o s e d 
f o r 
any i m p r o p e r p u r p o s e ' ] , 
t h a t d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
w i l l 
n o t 
be 
d i s t u r b e d 
on 
a p p e a l 
' u n l e s s 
i t i s 
c l e a r l y 
e r r o n e o u s , 
w i t h o u t 
s u p p o r t i n g 
e v i d e n c e , 
m a n i f e s t l y 
u n j u s t , 
o r 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
g r e a t 
w e i g h t 
o f 
t h e 
9 
1081170 
e v i d e n c e . ' 
Cove 
C r e e k 
D e v e l o p m e n t 
C o r p . 
v . 
A P A C - A l a b a m a , I n c . , 
588 So. 2d 458, 4 
61 ( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) . 
"However, 
we 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h e 
p h r a s e 
' g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w ' 
c l e a r l y 
c a l l s 
f o r a 
l e g a l 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
i f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e s t h a t a p a r t y ' s a c t i o n , c l a i m , o r d e f e n s e 
i s 
' w i t h o u t s u b s t a n t i a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n ' b e c a u s e i t i s 
' g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w , ' t h a t d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
w i l l n o t be 
e n t i t l e d t o a p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s . 
R a t h e r , 
t h e 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t s o f t h i s 
S t a t e 
w i l l 
t e s t t h e 
v a l i d i t y o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
l e g a l 
c o n c l u s i o n . " 
614 So. 2d a t 418. 
I n t h i s c a s e t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t " t h e s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w 
on a p p e a l 
f r o m t h e 
d e n i a l o f an ALAA c l a i m i s no d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e s t a n d a r d o f 
r e v i e w on a p p e a l f r o m t h e g r a n t o f an ALAA c l a i m , " d e s p i t e t h e 
f a c t t h a t a c o u r t i s 
n o t r e q u i r e d t o e n t e r f i n d i n g s s u p p o r t i n g 
i t s 
d e c i s i o n when i t d e n i e s a c l a i m f o r a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
u n d e r 
t h e ALAA. Mahoney I I , 
So. 3d a t 
. 
LAPOA d i s a g r e e s , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t t h e a p p e l l a t e s t a n d a r d o f 
r e v i e w f o r 
t h e g r a n t and t h e d e n i a l o f a t t o r n e y f e e s u n d e r t h e 
ALAA " c a n n o t l o g i c a l l y be t h e same when a g r a n t o f f e e s u n d e r 
t h e ALAA i s a c c o m p a n i e d b y s p e c i f i c r e a s o n s i n s u p p o r t 
t h u s 
g i v i n g t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s o m e t h i n g t o r e v i e w and a d e n i a l o f 
f e e s u n d e r t h e ALAA i s u s u a l l y n o t a c c o m p a n i e d by any r e a s o n s 
i n 
s u p p o r t 
" 
LAPOA's 
b r i e f , a t p. 24. 
LAPOA 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t , b e c a u s e a c o u r t d e n y i n g an a t t o r n e y f e e i s n o t r e q u i r e d 
10 
1081170 
u n d e r t h e ALAA t o e n t e r an o r d e r 
s t a t i n g why i t d e c l i n e d t h e 
a w a r d , a p p l i c a t i o n t o a d e n i a l o f an a t t o r n e y f e e o f t h e same 
s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w f o r 
t h e g r a n t o f an a t t o r n e y f e e u n d e r t h e 
ALAA i m p r o p e r l y r e q u i r e s t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t t o " r e w e i g h t h e 
e v i d e n c e h e a r d o r e t e n u s ... and t o s u b s t i t u t e i t s o p i n i o n f o r 
t h a t o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t " i n o r d e r 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e 
w h e t h e r t h e a c t i o n , 
c l a i m , d e f e n s e , o r a p p e a l was 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w o r g r o u n d l e s s i n f a c t . 
LAPOA's b r i e f , a t p. 28. 
LAPOA 
a p p e a r s t o c o n t e n d 
t h a t t h e d e n i a l o f an a t t o r n e y f e e u n d e r 
t h e ALAA, i n c l u d i n g t h e g r o u n d l e s s - i n - l a w c a t e g o r y , s h o u l d be 
r e v i e w e d 
u n d e r 
t h e o r e 
t e n u s 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w , 
w h i c h 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t " ' [ w ] h e n a j u d g e i n a n o n j u r y 
c a s e 
h e a r s 
o r a l 
t e s t i m o n y , a j u d g m e n t b a s e d on f i n d i n g s o f f a c t b a s e d on t h a t 
t e s t i m o n y 
w i l l be p r e s u m e d c o r r e c t and w i l l n o t be d i s t u r b e d 
on 
a p p e a l 
e x c e p t f o r a p l a i n and p a l p a b l e 
e r r o r . ' " 
S m i t h v .  
M u c h i a , 854 So. 2d 85, 92 ( A l a . 2003) ( q u o t i n g A l l s t a t e I n s .  
Co. v . S k e l t o n , 675 So. 2d 377, 379 ( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) ) . 
We 
a g r e e 
w i t h 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
t h a t t h e 
a p p e l l a t e 
s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w s e t o u t i n P a c i f i c E n t e r p r i s e s 
a p p l i e s t o b o t h t h e g r a n t a n d t h e d e n i a l o f a c l a i m f o r an 
a t t o r n e y f e e u n d e r t h e ALAA. 
I f a p a r t y a p p e a l i n g t h e d e n i a l 
11 
1081170 
o f a c l a i m f o r 
an a t t o r n e y f e e u n d e r t h e ALAA a r g u e s on 
a p p e a l 
t h a t 
an 
a c t i o n , 
c l a i m , 
d e f e n s e , 
o r a p p e a l 
was 
f r i v o l o u s , 
 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n f a c t , v e x a t i o u s , o r i n t e r p o s e d f o r an i m p r o p e r  
p u r p o s e , t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t 
s h a l l n o t r e v e r s e t h e d e n i a l o f 
t h e c l a i m " ' u n l e s s i t 
i s c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s , w i t h o u t 
s u p p o r t i n g 
e v i d e n c e , 
m a n i f e s t l y u n j u s t , o r a g a i n s t t h e g r e a t w e i g h t o f 
t h e e v i d e n c e . ' " 
P a c i f i c E n t e r s . O i l 
Co. (USA), 614 So. 2d a t 
418 
( q u o t i n g Cove C r e e k Dev. C o r p . , 588 So. 2d a t 4 6 1 ) . I f a 
p a r t y a p p e a l i n g t h e d e n i a l o f a c l a i m f o r a t t o r n e y f e e s u n d e r 
t h e ALAA a r g u e s on a p p e a l 
t h a t an a c t i o n , c l a i m , o r d e f e n s e 
was 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w , t h e a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t 
" w i l l 
t e s t t h e 
v a l i d i t y o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
l e g a l 
c o n c l u s i o n " and 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
d e n i a l o f t h e c l a i m o n l y when t h e r e c o r d shows t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g t h e c l a i m . 
P a c i f i c E n t e r s . O i l 
 
Co. 
(USA), 614 So. 2d a t 418. 
LAPOA a s s e r t s t h a t a p p l y i n g t h e same a p p e l l a t e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w t o t h e a w a r d o f a t t o r n e y f e e s u n d e r t h e ALAA t o t h e 
d e n i a l o f a t t o r n e y f e e s u n d e r t h e ALAA w i l l 
r e q u i r e a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t s t o " r e w e i g h t h e e v i d e n c e h e a r d o r e t e n u s . " 
LAPOA's 
b r i e f , a t p. 28. 
We d i s a g r e e . 
I f a c o u r t d e n i e s a c l a i m f o r 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s u n d e r t h e ALAA a f t e r h o l d i n g a h e a r i n g on t h a t 
12 
1081170 
c l a i m , and t h e p a r t y s e e k i n g a t t o r n e y f e e s a p p e a l s 
t h a t d e n i a l 
a r g u i n g t h a t t h e s u b j e c t a c t i o n , c l a i m , d e f e n s e , o r a p p e a l was 
f r i v o l o u s , g r o u n d l e s s i n f a c t , v e x a t i o u s , o r i n t e r p o s e d f o r 
an 
i m p r o p e r 
p u r p o s e , 
t h e 
a p p e l l a t e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w 
i s 
e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e o r e t e n u s 
s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w .
1 
Compare 
 
P a c i f i c E n t e r s . O i l Co. (USA), 614 So. 2d a t 418, w i t h M u c h i a , 
854 So. 2d a t 92. 
I f a c o u r t d e n i e s a c l a i m f o r a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
u n d e r t h e ALAA a f t e r h o l d i n g a h e a r i n g on t h a t c l a i m , and t h e 
p a r t y s e e k i n g 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s a p p e a l s 
t h a t d e n i a l a r g u i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
s u b j e c t a c t i o n , c l a i m , d e f e n s e , o r a p p e a l was 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w , t h e a p p e l l a t e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w 
i s de n o v o , 
w h i c h 
r e q u i r e s 
t h e a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t s 
o f 
t h i s 
S t a t e 
t o 
" t e s t t h e 
v a l i d i t y 
o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
l e g a l 
c o n c l u s i o n . " 
P a c i f i c 
 
E n t e r s . O i l 
Co. (USA), 614 So. 2d a t 418. 
1We n o t e t h a t a c o u r t c o n s i d e r i n g a c l a i m f o r 
an a t t o r n e y 
f e e u n d e r t h e ALAA i s n o t r e q u i r e d t o h o l d a h e a r i n g on t h e 
c l a i m a n d , t h e r e f o r e , o r e t e n u s e v i d e n c e 
r e l a t e d t o a c l a i m 
u n d e r t h e ALAA may n o t e x i s t . See Ex p a r t e C i t i z e n s Bank, 879 
So. 
2d 5 3 5 , 539 
( A l a . 2003) 
( n o t i n g t h a t 
" ' i t i s w i t h i n t h e 
c o u r t ' s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
t o h o l d 
a 
s e p a r a t e 
h e a r i n g 
on an ALAA 
p e t i t i o n 
a f t e r 
t h e e n t r y o f 
f i n a l 
j u d g m e n t on t h e m e r i t s , 
p r o v i d e d 
t h a t 
t h e c o u r t 
r e t a i n e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
t o do s o ' " 
( q u o t i n g B a k e r v. W i l l i a m s 
B r o s . , 
I n c . , 601 So. 2d 110, 112 
( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 9 2 ) ) ) . 
I n d e e d , i n t h i s 
c a s e t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
d i d n o t h o l d 
a 
h e a r i n g 
on Mahoney's 
c l a i m 
f o r an 
a t t o r n e y f e e u n d e r t h e ALAA o r t a k e 
t e s t i m o n y 
r e l a t e d t o t h e 
c l a i m . 
13 
1081170 
H e r e , Mahoney a r g u e d t o t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s 
t h a t 
"[LAPOA's] 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
[ h e r ] were 
w i t h o u t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
j u s t i f i c a t i o n 
as t h e y were ' g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w . ' " 
Mahoney's 
b r i e f t o t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s , a t p. 8. 
T h a t 
c o u r t 
a g r e e d , 
h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
" t h e r e c o r d 
shows 
i n d i s p u t a b l y 
t h a t 
LAPOA's 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
Ms. Mahoney was 
g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w . " 
Mahoney I I , 
So. 3d a t 
. We a l s o 
a g r e e . 
As t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s 
n o t e d : 
" [ T ] h e 
r e c o r d 
c o n c l u s i v e l y d e m o n s t r a t e s 
t h a t 
LAPOA 
knew, b e f o r e 
December 2 1 , 2006, when i t 
amended 
i t s 
c o m p l a i n t i n t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , 
t h a t Ms. Mahoney's 
f o r m e r h u s b a n d , J o s e p h Mahoney, was t h e owner o f t h e 
p r o p e r t y 
b e c a u s e LAPOA's 
a t t o r n e y 
h a d , on 
O c t o b e r 
16, 
2006, 
f i l e d 
i n t h e B a l d w i n 
P r o b a t e 
C o u r t 
a 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
d e e d 
a v e r r i n g 
t h a t 
J o s e p h Mahoney h a d 
b e e n t h e r e c o r d 
t i t l e owner o f t h e s u b j e c t 
p r o p e r t y 
s i n c e May 10, 2 0 0 5 . " 
Mahoney I I , 
So. 3d a t 
. 
I n d e e d , t h e amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
" a l l e g e [ s ] 
t h a t Mr. Mahoney was t h e 'owner' o f u n i t C-1 i n 
Loma A l t a Townhomes and t h a t Ms. Mahoney was a ' r e s i d e n t ' o f 
t h e 
u n i t . " 
Mahoney I , 4 So. 3d a t 1131-32 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
B e c a u s e 
" [ a ] l l 
f o u r o f LAPOA's 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t Ms. Mahoney-¬
b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t , a c c o u n t s t a t e d , p r o p e r t y o w n e r ' s l i e n , and 
e v i c t i o n - - h i n g e d 
upon i t s 
p r o v i n g 
t h a t Ms. Mahoney was t h e 
owner o f t h e p r o p e r t y , " 
and b e c a u s e LAPOA d i d n o t a l l e g e 
t h a t 
14 
1081170 
Mahoney was t h e owner o f t h e p r o p e r t y , e a c h o f LAPOA's 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t Mahoney was g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w .
2 
Mahoney I I , 
So. 
3d a t 
. The ALAA does n o t d e f i n e t h e p h r a s e " g r o u n d l e s s i n 
l a w " ; 
h o w e v e r , t h i s C o u r t i n P a c i f i c E n t e r p r i s e s 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
" t h e 
p h r a s e 
' g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w ' c l e a r l y 
c a l l s 
f o r a 
l e g a l 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n . " 
614 So. 2d a t 418. 
H e r e , t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
t h a t 
LAPOA's 
c l a i m s 
were 
g r o u n d l e s s 
c a l l s 
f o r a 
l e g a l 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , n o t a f a c t - f i n d i n g e x e r c i s e . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
t h a t 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d 
b y 
LAPOA 
a g a i n s t 
Mahoney i n t h e amended c o m p l a i n t were g r o u n d l e s s r e s u l t s 
f r o m 
r e c o g n i t i o n 
t h a t 
o w n e r s h i p o f t h e p r o p e r t y 
was a 
r e q u i r e d 
l e g a l 
e l e m e n t 
o f e a c h 
c l a i m 
and 
t h a t , 
a t t h e t i m e 
LAPOA 
amended t h e c o m p l a i n t , 
LAPOA 
a l l e g e d 
t h a t Mahoney's 
f o r m e r 
h u s b a n d , 
and n o t Mahoney 
h e r s e l f , 
was 
t h e owner 
o f t h e 
p r o p e r t y . 
We a f f i r m t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s ' d e c i s i o n t h a t 
2We n o t e t h a t t h e amended c o m p l a i n t 
i s n o t i n c l u d e d i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
b e f o r e 
us b e c a u s e n e i t h e r p a r t y moved t o 
i n c o r p o r a t e 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
f r o m Mahoney I i n t h e r e c o r d i n Mahoney I I o r i n 
t h i s C o u r t . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e f a c t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e c o n t e n t s o f 
t h e amended c o m p l a i n t a r e p i e c e d t o g e t h e r f r o m t h e o p i n i o n s o f 
t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s i n Mahoney I and Mahoney I I . 
See 
 
G o t l i e b v. C o l l a t , 567 So. 2d 1302, 1304 ( A l a . 1990) 
( " [ T ] h i s 
C o u r t i s l i m i t e d t o a r e v i e w 
o f t h e r e c o r d 
a l o n e , 
and t h e 
r e c o r d 
c a n n o t be c h a n g e d , 
a l t e r e d , 
o r v a r i e d on a p p e a l b y 
s t a t e m e n t s i n b r i e f s o f c o u n s e l . " ) . 
15 
1081170 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e r r e d 
i n d e n y i n g Mahoney's 
c l a i m 
f o r 
an 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e u n d e r t h e A L A A .
3 
We 
a l s o g r a n t e d 
c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
d e c i s i o n 
r e v e r s i n g 
o f 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t d e n y i n g Mahoney's ALAA c l a i m c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h 
D i c k e r s o n . 
LAPOA c o n t e n d s t h a t 
t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
d e c i s i o n i n t h i s c a s e c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h D i c k e r s o n b e c a u s e , LAPOA 
s a y s , 
D i c k e r s o n 
r e v e r s e d 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t a w a r d i n g 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s u n d e r 
t h e ALAA and 
remanded t h e 
c a u s e 
t o 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
f o r t h e e n t r y o f a j u d g m e n t t h a t d i d n o t make 
an 
a t t o r n e y - f e e a w a r d d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e u n d e r l y i n g a c t i o n 
3We 
n o t e t h a t " t h e ALAA s t a t e s t h a t t h e a w a r d o f c o s t s 
and 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
i s w i t h i n 
t h e 
s o u n d 
d i s c r e t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , " 
S h e a l y 
v. G o l d e n , 
959 
So. 
2d 
1098, 
1105 
( A l a . 2006) 
( c i t i n g 
§ 1 2 - 1 9 - 2 7 3 , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 ) , and 
we 
r e c o g n i z e 
t h a t 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
may 
l i m i t 
t h e 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
a s s e s s e d 
t o 
t h o s e 
f e e s 
t h a t 
a c c r u e d 
a f t e r LAPOA amended t h e 
c o m p l a i n t . 
I n d e e d , 
we 
a c k n o w l e d g e 
t h a t 
Mahoney 
a n s w e r e d 
t h e 
i n i t i a l 
c o m p l a i n t 
by " a d m i t t [ i n g ] t h a t she 'owe[d] some money, b u t 
n o t 
t h e 
t o t a l amount c l a i m e d by 
[ L A P O A ] . ' " Mahoney I , 4 So. 
3d 
a t 
1131. 
N o n e t h e l e s s , 
Mahoney t h e n 
" f i l e d 
an amended a n s w e r i n 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , 
g e n e r a l l y 
d e n y i n g 
t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
o f 
LAPOA's c o m p l a i n t 
and 
a s s e r t i n g , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t 
she 
d i d 
n o t h a v e a c o n t r a c t w i t h LAPOA." 
Mahoney I , 4 So. 
3d 
a t 
1131. 
A f t e r LAPOA t h e n f i l e d a f o r e c l o s u r e d e e d a v e r r i n g t h a t 
Mahoney's f o r m e r h u s b a n d was 
t h e owner o f 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y 
and 
t h e n i d e n t i f i e d 
h i m as t h e "owner" o f t h e p r o p e r t y and Mahoney 
as a " r e s i d e n t " i n t h e amended c o m p l a i n t , LAPOA c o n t i n u e d 
t o 
p r o s e c u t e 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
M a h o n e y - - i n c l u d i n g 
p r o c e e d i n g 
t o 
t r i a l - - t h a t were w i t h o u t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
j u s t i f i c a t i o n . 
16 
1081170 
was 
g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w . 
We 
f i n d D i c k e r s o n 
d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m 
t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e . 
C o n t r a r y 
t o t h e p o s i t i o n a s s e r t e d by LAPOA, D i c k e r s o n 
d i d 
n o t 
h o l d 
t h a t 
t h e 
u n d e r l y i n g 
a c t i o n t h e r e 
was 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n 
l a w . 
R a t h e r , D i c k e r s o n 
h e l d t h a t 
" a l t h o u g h 
we 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h e m o t h e r ' s e f f o r t s 
t o o b t a i n r e i n s t a t e m e n t 
o f 
p o s t m i n o r i t y 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
s u p p o r t u l t i m a t e l y must 
f a i l , 
we 
do 
n o t 
t h i n k i t 
can be c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r a s s e r t e d p o s i t i o n s t h a t were 
so f r i v o l o u s , g r o u n d l e s s , 
v e x a t i o u s , o r i m p r o p e r as t o 
j u s t i f y 
t h e a w a r d o f 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s u n d e r t h e ALAA." 
D i c k e r s o n , 
885 
So. 
2d 
a t 
168. 
D i c k e r s o n 
f o l l o w s 
t h i s 
C o u r t ' s g u i d a n c e 
i n 
Morrow t h a t 
" [ t h e a t t o r n e y ] must have b e e n more t h a n 
' s i m p l y 
l e g a l l y 
i n c o r r e c t ' 
t o 
j u s t i f y 
an 
a w a r d 
o f 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
p u r s u a n t t o t h e ALAA. 
The 
l e g a l i n s u f f i c i e n c y o f h i s p o s i t i o n 
must be 
s u s c e p t i b l e 
t o 
a c o n c l u s i o n 
t h a t 
no 
r e a s o n a b l e 
and 
c o m p e t e n t a t t o r n e y w o u l d have a d v a n c e d t h e c o n t e n t i o n 
t h a t 
he 
d i d . " 
827 
So. 
2d a t 763-64. 
I n d e e d , i n D i c k e r s o n 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s e x p r e s s l y r e c o g n i z e d 
t h a t " t h e m o t h e r a r g u e s  
w i t h some 
j u s t i f i c a t i o n 
t h a t 
' i t i s i n c o n c e i v a b l e 
t h a t 
t h e 
c o u r t w o u l d c o n s i d e r 
h e r 
[ c l a i m s ] 
as a f r i v o l o u s . ' " 
885 
So. 
2d 
a t 
168 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
B e c a u s e D i c k e r s o n 
d i d n o t 
f i n d 
17 
1081170 
t h a t 
t h e u n d e r l y i n g 
a c t i o n 
was 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w , i t i s 
c l e a r l y 
d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m t h e p r e s e n t c a s e . 
As 
d i s c u s s e d 
a b o v e , 
we 
f i n d 
no 
e r r o r 
i n t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
c o n c l u s i o n 
t h a t LAPOA's a c t i o n a g a i n s t Mahoney was g r o u n d l e s s 
i n 
l a w .
4 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , 
we 
a f f i r m t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e 
C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s . 
AFFIRMED. 
L y o n s , 
S t u a r t , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , 
and Shaw, 
J J . , c o n c u r . 
W o o d a l l and M u r d o c k , J J . , 
d i s s e n t . 
4 B e c a u s e we d i d 
n o t g r a n t LAPOA's p e t i t i o n f o r c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s a l l e g e d l y c o n f l i c t s w i t h Sam v . B e a i r d , 685 So. 2d 742 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 1 9 9 6 ) , and W a r n e r v . B u l l i n g t o n , 624 So. 2d 
594 ( A l a . C i v . 
App. 1 9 9 3 ) , we p r e t e r m i t any d i s c u s s i o n LAPOA's 
a r g u m e n t s as t o t h i s 
a l l e g e d 
c o n f l i c t . 
18 
1081170 
WOODALL, J u s t i c e ( d i s s e n t i n g ) . 
I 
r e s p e c t f u l l y 
d i s s e n t f r o m t h e d e c i s i o n a f f i r m i n g t h e 
j u d g m e n t o f t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s and t h e r e b y 
a l l o w i n g 
t h a t c o u r t t o i s s u e a j u d g m e n t i n s t r u c t i n g t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o 
a w a r d some amount o f a t t o r n e y f e e s and c o s t s u n d e r t h e A l a b a m a 
L i t i g a t i o n A c c o u n t a b i l i t y A c t , § 12-19-270 e t s e q . , A l a . Code 
1975. My 
d i s s e n t 
i s b a s e d , i n s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t , 
upon 
t h e 
f a c t o r s 
d i s c u s s e d 
by 
J u s t i c e M u r d o c k 
i n h i s w e l l 
r e a s o n e d 
d i s s e n t . 
However, 
I h a v e 
a l s o 
b e e n 
p e r s u a d e d 
by 
o t h e r 
f a c t o r s . 
Loma A l t a 
P r o p e r t y Owners A s s o c i a t i o n , I n c . 
("LAPOA"), 
b e g a n 
t h i s 
c a s e i n t h e B a l d w i n 
D i s t r i c t 
C o u r t , 
where 
C a r o l 
Mahoney a d m i t t e d 
t h a t she owed "some money" t o LAPOA. 
LAPOA 
p r e v a i l e d i n t h a t c o u r t , o b t a i n i n g a j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t Mahoney 
f o r 
$5,390, p l u s 
c o u r t 
c o s t s and an a t t o r n e y 
f e e . 
Mahoney 
a p p e a l e d t o t h e B a l d w i n 
C i r c u i t C o u r t , w h e r e , a f t e r a t r i a l de 
n o v o , LAPOA 
a g a i n 
p r e v a i l e d , 
o b t a i n i n g 
a j u d g m e n t 
a g a i n s t 
Mahoney f o r $ 6 , 2 7 9 . 1 0 , 
p l u s 
an a t t o r n e y 
f e e . A l t h o u g h 
t h a t 
j u d g m e n t was r e v e r s e d on a p p e a l by t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s , 
w h i c h h e l d t h a t LAPOA h a d f a i l e d t o p r o v e i t s 
c l a i m s , LAPOA'S 
e a r l i e r 
s u c c e s s e s 
i n t h e l o w e r 
c o u r t s 
c o n v i n c e 
me 
t h a t i t s 
19 
1081170 
a c t i o n i s n o t t h e t y p e o f a c t i o n t a r g e t e d f o r s a n c t i o n s b y t h e 
A l a b a m a L i t i g a t i o n A c c o u n t a b i l i t y A c t . 
I a g r e e 
w i t h t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s 
t h a t 
"LAPOA's 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t Ms. Mahoney 
... h i n g e d upon i t s 
p r o v i n g 
t h a t 
[she] 
was t h e owner o f t h e p r o p e r t y [ , 
a n d t h a t ] LAPOA 
... 
f a i l e d t o p r o v e 
t h a t 
[ s h e ] was t h e owner." 
Mahoney v . Loma 
A l t a P r o p . Owners A s s ' n , [Ms. 2 0 8 0 1 9 2 , M a r c h 27, 2009] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . 
C i v . App. 2 0 0 9 ) . 
However, I c a n n o t 
a g r e e 
t h a t 
s u c h 
a 
f a i l u r e 
o f 
p r o o f 
r e n d e r e d 
LAPOA's 
a c t i o n 
g r o u n d l e s s i n l a w . A l s o , g i v e n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n , 
t h e 
d e a l i n g s b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s b e f o r e 
t h e l i t i g a t i o n , 
and 
t h e 
d e f e r e n c e 
t h a t 
must be 
a f f o r d e d 
t o t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n , 
I c a n n o t 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d i n 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
t h a t LAPOA'S a c t i o n was n o t f r i v o l o u s , g r o u n d l e s s 
i n 
f a c t , v e x a t i o u s , o r i n t e r p o s e d f o r any i m p r o p e r 
p u r p o s e . 
20 
1081170 
MURDOCK, J u s t i c e ( d i s s e n t i n g ) . 
I 
f i r s t n o t e 
t h a t we 
s h o u l d 
t a k e 
c a r e 
n o t t o 
c o n f u s e 
w h e t h e r we c a n d e c i d e an i s s u e as a m a t t e r o f l a w w i t h w h e t h e r 
t h e u n d e r l y i n g i s s u e b e i n g d e c i d e d i s i t s e l f a q u e s t i o n o f l a w 
o r one o f 
f a c t . 
An a c t i o n a l l e g i n g t h a t 
C a r o l Mahoney was t h e owner o f 
t h e c o n d o m i n i u m and s e e k i n g c o n d o m i n i u m f e e s f r o m h e r i n t h a t 
c a p a c i t y s t a t e s a c o g n i z a b l e 
l e g a l t h e o r y ; i t 
t h e r e f o r e i s 
n o t 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n l a w . A t 
l e a s t 
u n t i l 
t h e amendment 
o f t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
i n t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
i d e n t i f y i n g Mahoney m e r e l y as 
a " r e s i d e n t " o f t h e c o n d o m i n i u m u n i t , t h a t was t h e n a t u r e o f 
t h e 
a c t i o n b r o u g h t a g a i n s t Mahoney. 
The f a c t t h a t Loma A l t a P r o p e r t y Owners A s s o c i a t i o n , I n c . 
("LAPOA"), l a t e r a c q u i r e d i n f o r m a t i o n i n d i c a t i n g t h a t Mahoney 
was n o t t h e owner o f t h e c o n d o m i n i u m u n i t 
(and amended i t s 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o t h a t 
e f f e c t ) r a i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n 
w h e t h e r , 
f r o m  
t h e 
o u t s e t , 
t h e c l a i m was 
g r o u n d l e s s 
i n f a c t . 
I 
c a n n o t 
c o n c l u d e as a m a t t e r o f l a w t h a t i t was. 
T h i s i s a c a s e i n w h i c h LAPOA p u r s u e d i t s c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
Mahoney i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e f o l l o w i n g : 
(1) Mahoney f i l e d an 
a n s w e r i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a d m i t t i n g t h a t she owed a p o r t i o n 
21 
1081170 
o f t h e c o n d o m i n i u m f e e s a t i s s u e , f e e s t h a t a r e owed o n l y by 
t h e owner o f a c o n d o m i n i u m u n i t ; 
(2) i n h e r amended a n s w e r i n 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , Mahoney made o n l y a g e n e r a l d e n i a l o f t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
i n 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t , 
" d e m a n d [ i n g ] 
s t r i c t 
p r o o f 
t h e r e o f , " b u t d i d n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y deny o w n e r s h i p o f t h e u n i t ; 
(3) Mahoney c o n t i n u e d t o i m p l y t h a t she was t h e owner o f t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m u n i t by p r o p o u n d i n g , and m o v i n g t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
t o c o m p e l an a n s w e r t o , an i n t e r r o g a t o r y r e q u i r i n g LAPOA t o 
" s t a t e e a c h and e v e r y 
f a c t t h a t you r e l y upon t o s u p p o r t y o u r 
c l a i m 
t h a t you h a v e t h e r i g h t t o c h a r g e p r o p e r t y owners o f 
Loma A l t a 
f o r p r o p e r t y owner 
f e e s , a s s e s s m e n t s , 
[ e t c . ] " 
(a 
s i m i l a r l y 
w o r d e d 
r e q u e s t 
f o r p r o d u c t i o n 
was 
p r o p o u n d e d 
by 
M a h o n e y ) ; 
(4) Mahoney l i v e d a l o n e i n t h e c o n d o m i n i u m u n i t f o r 
t h e 
9-10 
y e a r s 
p r e c e d i n g 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t ; 
(5) Mahoney e n g a g e d i n a c o u r s e o f d e a l i n g i n w h i c h she p a i d 
and assumed 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
f o r payment 
o f f e e s owed by t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m owner, i . e . , t h e v e r y f e e s t h a t a r e t h e s u b j e c t o f 
t h i s 
l i t i g a t i o n ; 
(6) Mahoney c l a i m e d s e t o f f s t o w h i c h o n l y t h e 
owner 
o f 
t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m 
u n i t 
w o u l d 
be 
e n t i t l e d ; 
and 
(7) Mahoney a p p a r e n t l y h e l d o u t t o t h e p u b l i c t h a t she was t h e 
22 
1081170 
owner o f t h e u n i t and n e v e r a s k e d t h a t 
b i l l s 
f o r t h e 
f e e s 
be 
d i r e c t e d t o anyone e l s e . 
The 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t d e c i d e d 
t h a t an a c t i o n a g a i n s t Mahoney 
f o r 
t h e 
c o l l e c t i o n 
o f c o n d o m i n i u m 
f e e s 
u n d e r 
t h e 
f o r e g o i n g 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
was 
n o t 
" f r i v o l o u s , " 
" g r o u n d l e s s 
i n 
f a c t , " 
" v e x a t i o u s , " 
o r " i n t e r p o s e d f o r an i m p r o p e r p u r p o s e . " 
G i v e n 
t h o s e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , 
I c a n n o t c o n c l u d e t h a t 
t h i s d e c i s i o n o f 
t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t was 
" c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s , " " w i t h o u t 
s u p p o r t i n g 
e v i d e n c e , " 
" m a n i f e s t l y u n j u s t , " o r " a g a i n s t t h e g r e a t 
w e i g h t 
o f t h e 
e v i d e n c e . " 
I n p a r t i c u l a r , 
g i v e n 
t h e 
h i s t o r y o f 
p r e -
l i t i g a t i o n 
d e a l i n g s 
b e t w e e n 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
and, 
i n d e e d , 
t h e 
p o s i t i o n s t a k e n 
by Mahoney i n t h e c o u r s e 
o f t h i s 
l i t i g a t i o n , 
I 
c a n n o t 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e x c e e d e d 
i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n t o t h e e x t e n t 
t h a t i t r e j e c t e d t h e n o t i o n " t h a t 
no 
r e a s o n a b l e 
and c o m p e t e n t a t t o r n e y w o u l d h a v e " r e t a i n e d Mahoney 
as 
a 
d e f e n d a n t 
e v e n 
a f t e r 
December 
21, 
2006, 
p e n d i n g 
a 
d e f i n i t i v e 
d e c i s i o n 
by 
t h e 
c o u r t 
as 
t o 
l i a b i l i t y 
f o r 
t h e 
c o n d o m i n i u m - u n i t 
f e e s . 
M o r e o v e r , 
g i v e n 
t h e 
f o r e g o i n g 
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , 
I c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t e x c e e d e d 
i t s d i s c r e t i o n 
i n r e f u s i n g Mahoney's 
r e q u e s t 
23 
1081170 
f o r 
an a w a r d o f a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
i n c u r r e d by 
h e r 
t h r o u g h o u t 
t h e 
f u l l 
c o u r s e o f t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n .
5 
B e c a u s e 
I w o u l d 
a f f i r m t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n , 
I 
r e s p e c t f u l l y 
d i s s e n t . 
5 I 
can u n d e r s t a n d why 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
f e l t 
t h a t , 
g i v e n 
t h e 
c o u r s e 
o f 
d e a l i n g 
b e t w e e n 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n 
and 
t h e p o s i t i o n s t a k e n by Mahoney t h r o u g h o u t most 
o f t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n , 
she 
s h o u l d 
n o t 
be h e a r d t o c l a i m t h a t 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n was 
f r i v o l o u s o r i n t e r p o s e d 
f o r an i m p r o p e r p u r p o s e 
and 
t h a t 
she 
was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o an a w a r d o f h e r 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s . 
24