Source: http://courts.mrsc.org/appellate/096wnapp/096wnapp0355.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 04:29:55+00:00

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RICHARD L. BECKMAN, ET AL., Appellants, v. MONTE WILCOX, ET AL., Respondents.
 Dismissal and Nonsuit - Voluntary Dismissal - Attorney Fees and Costs - Jurisdiction - Statutory Authority. A trial court retains jurisdiction to award attorney fees following a voluntary dismissal under CR 41(a) if the claimant meets the conditions of the statute authorizing the award of fees.
 Courts - Rules of Court - Construction - Similar Federal Rule - Federal Case Law. Decisions and analysis of a federal rule of civil procedure may be looked to for guidance when construing a similar state rule, but federal law is not binding.
 Eminent Domain - Private Condemnation - Attorney Fees - Following Voluntary Dismissal. An award of attorney fees in an action for the condemnation of land for a private way of necessity is permitted under RCW 8.24.030 following a voluntary dismissal.
 Eminent Domain - Private Condemnation - Attorney Fees - Taking - Necessity. A taking is not required to permit an award of attorney fees under RCW 8.24.030 in an action for the condemnation of land for a private way of necessity. The statute authorizes an award of fees and costs without regard to whether the condemnee has prevailed in the action or on any particular issue.
 Statutes - Construction - Meaning of Words - Absence of Statutory Definition - Resort to Dictionary. The ordinary meaning of a word that is not defined in a statute may be determined by resort to extrinsic aids, such as a dictionary.
 Statutes - Construction - Acts Relating to Same Subject - In General. Statutes relating to the same subject matter or having the same purpose are in pari materia and must be construed together.
 Costs - Attorney Fees - Review - Discretion of Court - In General. An attorney fee award is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. A trial court does not abuse its discretion unless its exercise of discretion is manifestly unreasonable or based upon untenable grounds or reasons.
 Costs - Attorney Fees - Amount - Reasonableness - Documentation. An attorney fee applicant must prove that the fee request is reasonable and provide reasonable documentation of the work performed. Such documentation does not need to be exhaustive or minutely detailed, but must inform the court of the number of hours worked, the type of work performed, and the category of attorney who performed the work.
Nature of Action: Petition to condemn a private road for a private way of necessity.
County, No. 96-2-00136-0, Tom Reynolds, J., after dismissing the action on the condemnors' motion, awarded attorney fees to the condemnees on June 25, 1998.
Court of Appeals: Holding that the trial court retained jurisdiction to award attorney fees after the voluntary dismissal and that the condemnees' fee affidavits were adequate to support the award, the court affirms the award.
James J. Mason of Eisenhower & Carlson, for appellants.
Margaret Yvonne Archer of Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson & Daheim, for respondents.
SEINFELD, J. - A private way of necessity condemnor appeals an award of attorney fees to his condemnee. The trial court awarded the fees shortly after it dismissed the condemnation action pursuant to the condemnor's motion. The question before us is whether the trial court retained jurisdiction to award attorney fees. Holding that it did, we affirm.
The condemnors, Richard L. and Richard J. Beckman (Beckman), filed a petition for a private way of necessity. They sought to condemn a private road owned by Monte and Jeanette Wilcox, Wesley and Karen Randall, and David and Kasandra Edgemon Suther (Wilcox). Wilcox's answer included a request for costs and attorney fees pursuant to RCW 8.24.030.
that it would grant the private way of necessity upon the condemnor's payment of compensation in an amount to be established at trial and that Wilcox "shall have their reasonable attorney's fees and expert witness costs as permitted by RCW 8.24.050."«1» The subsequent private way of necessity decree stated that it was subject to Beckman's payment of compensation "and such other atty's fees and other costs as may be allowed by statute and the court."
Because of court congestion, the trial was set and then continued three times; ultimately, it was delayed for more than a year. At one point, Wilcox moved for reimbursement of attorney fees thus far incurred. The trial court continued the motion "until the conclusion of trial."
Finally, on the morning of trial, Beckman moved for voluntary dismissal pursuant to CR 41(a)(1)(B). Wilcox advised the court that it would move again for fees. The trial court then dismissed the suit without prejudice.
About a week later, Wilcox filed a motion for costs and attorney fees. The trial court granted the motion and awarded Wilcox $20,000 in attorney fees and $4,800 in expert witness fees.
Beckman appeals, arguing that the trial court lost jurisdiction to award fees after it dismissed the case. Alternatively, Beckman contends that RCW 8.24.030 does not authorize an award of fees when the condemnee's property is not taken. Beckman also challenges the reasonableness of the fee award.
CR 41(a) provides for the voluntary dismissal of a case upon the plaintiffs motion. CR 41(a)(1) states, in relevant part, as follows: "[A]ny action shall be dismissed by the court . . . (B) . . . [u]pon motion of the plaintiff at any time before plaintiff rests at the conclusion of his opening case." CR 41(a)(4) states: "Unless otherwise stated in the order of dismissal, the dismissal is without prejudice[.]"
«1» The reference to RCW 8.24.050 appears to have been d typographical error. The applicable statute is RCW 8.24.030.
Beckman, citing Barr Lab., Inc. v. Abbott Lab., 867 F.2d 743, 747 (2nd Cir. 1989), asserts that under federal case law a voluntary dismissal terminates a trial court's jurisdiction over the action in all respects, including its authority to impose sanctions. The United States Supreme Court has concluded otherwise. See Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 395, 110 S. Ct. 2447, 110 L. Ed. 2d 359 (1990) (trial court's jurisdiction to impose Rule 11 sanctions survives a notice of voluntary dismissal).
The Cooter & Gell court noted that a "federal court may consider collateral issues after an action is no longer pending." 496 U.S. at 395. The court explained: "This Court has indicated that motions for costs or attorney's fees are 'independent proceeding[s] supplemental to the original proceeding and not a request for a modification of the original decree.'" Cooter & Gell, 496 U.S. at 395 (quoting Sprague v. Ticonic Nat'l Bank, 307 U.S. 161, 170, 59 S. Ct. 777, 83 L. Ed. 1184 (1939)).
«2» Applying FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a), the federal equivalent to CR 41(a).
1076 (7th Cir. 1987), the Seventh Circuit held that 42 U.S.C.A. § 1988 disallowed fees after voluntary dismissal because the statute authorized payment to the "prevailing party" only. The Seventh Circuit reasoned that because a dismissal under FED. R. CIV. P 41(a)(1)(i) is without prejudice, the defendant did not prevail. Szabo Food Serv., 823 F.2d at 1077. But the Seventh Circuit went on to approve the imposition of Rule 11 sanctions, reasoning that "[n]either 'prevailing' on the merits nor an entitlement to 'costs' is a necessary condition of a Rule 11 award." Szabo Food Serv., 823 F.2d at 1077.
Beckman, citing Cork Insulation Sales Co. v. Torgeson, 54 Wn. App. 702, 705, 775 P.2d 970 (1989) and Thurston County v. Scammel, 7 Wash. 94, 34 E 470 (1893), argues that Washington case law also supports his position. But in both of those cases, like the federal cases, the statutes authorizing attorney fees did not apply after voluntary dismissal.
In Scammel, the trial court dismissed an action because the Legislature had repealed the statute authorizing the action, thus depriving the court of its underlying jurisdiction before the start of trial. 7 Wash. at 95. Nonetheless, the trial court awarded judgment in favor of the defendant for costs and fees. Scammel, 7 Wash. at 96-97. The Supreme Court reversed, reasoning that because the trial court had lost jurisdiction, it had "no more authority to render judgment for costs than for relief." Scammel, 7 Wash. at 95. Thus, we must view the Scammel court's broad statement, "where an action is dismissed for want of jurisdiction, no costs can be awarded to either party unless expressly authorized by statute," in that limited context. Scammel, 7 Wash. at 95.
voluntary dismissal.«3» But its reasoning turned on the particular statute under consideration there. Further, the language from Cork Insulation quoted by Beckman--that upon voluntary dismissal "the court lost jurisdiction of the matter" --does not refer to an award of statutorily authorized attorney fees. 54 Wn. App. at 705. Rather, the Cork Insulation court was discussing the trial court's assessment of terms against the defendant after the plaintiff obtained a voluntary nonsuit. 54 Wn. App. at 703-05 (plaintiff should have reduced the award of terms to judgment before or at the same time it moved for voluntary dismissal).
Several cases have awarded costs and attorney fees under other statutory or specific contractual provisions when a complaint has been dismissed voluntarily, either with or without prejudice. See Andersen v. Gold Seal Vineyards, Inc., 81 Wn.2d 863, 865, 505 P.2d 790 (1973) (costs and attorney fees awarded under the long arm statute to the third party defendant when the complaint was dismissed voluntarily without prejudice); Soper v. Clibborn, 31 Wn. App. 767, 644 P.2d 738 (1982) (the defendant is the prevailing party and is entitled to costs and attorney fees under the unlawful detainer statute when the plaintiff's action is dismissed for improper notice even if the defendant does not prevail on his counterclaim); Western Stud Welding, Inc. v. Omark Indus, Inc., 43 Wn. App. 293, 716 P.2d 959 (1986) (defendant was deemed the prevailing party and entitled to costs and attorney fees pursuant to a stock buy-out contract when plaintiff obtained a voluntary dismissal with prejudice). However, these cases are distinguished on the grounds they do not address RCW 4.84.250.
54 Wn. App. at 705-06.
8.24.030, does not predicate attorney fees upon entry of judgment.
Where a party seeking fees meets the conditions of the statute allowing for fees, the trial court may award fees even after a voluntary dismissal. Andersen v. Gold Seal Vineyards, Inc., 81 Wn.2d 863, 867-68, 505 P.2d 790 (1973). In Gold Seal, certain parties sought attorney fees under the fee provision in the long-arm statute, RCW 4.28.185(5). 81 Wn.2d at 864. That statute allowed fees to a defendant who is sued outside the state and who prevails. RCW 4.28.185(5).
Defendant Gold Seal brought a third party complaint against Sparkletop, who then brought a third party com- plaint against Napco. Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 864. During trial, Gold Seal voluntarily dismissed its action against Sparkletop, who then voluntarily dismissed its action against Napco. Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 864-65. The trial continued with Gold Seal as the only defendant and resulted in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff. Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 865. The trial court then ordered Gold Seal to pay both Sparkletop's and Napco's costs and fees. Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 865. The Supreme Court affirmed the fee award, reasoning that because at the end of the proceeding, Sparkletop and Napco had avoided liability, they satisfied the long arm statute's requirement that they be "prevailing parties."«4» Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 868.
 Thus, in the Washington and federal cases, the trial court's power to award attorney fees after a voluntary dismissal turns on whether the claimant meets the conditions of the statute authorizing fees. Some statutes do not authorize an award of fees after voluntary dismissal. Cork Insulation, 54 Wn. App. at 706; Szabo Food Serv., 823 P.2d at 1077. Statutes that are broader in scope allow such awards. Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 868; see also Corcoran v. Columbia Broadcasting Sys., 121 P.2d 575, 576 (9th Cir.
«4» For reasons not relevant here, the Supreme Court reversed that part of the judgment ordering Gold Seal to pay Napco for costs and fees incurred in defending Sparkletop's indemnity claim. Gold Seal, 81 Wn.2d at 871-72.
1941) (defendant was the prevailing party within the meaning of the Copyright Act and, thus, entitled to fee award after entry of order dismissing action); Noxell Corp. v. Firehouse No. 1 Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 771 P.2d 521, 525 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (applying Corcoran to dismissal under Lanham Act); In Re Arrow Transp. Co., 224 B.R. 457, 461 (Bankr. D. Or. 1998) (applying Corcoran to voluntary withdrawal of WARN Act claim).«5» Because RCW 8.24.030 grants such authority, the trial court had the jurisdiction to act.
 Beckman argues that because there was no taking in this case, Wilcox is not entitled to an award of fees. But RCW 8.24.030 does not require a taking; it allows attorney fees for any "action."
In any action brought under the provisions of this chapter for the condemnation of land for a private way of necessity, reasonable attorneys' fees and expert witness costs may be allowed by the court to reimburse the condemnee.
This statute "grants the trial court discretion to award reasonable fees and costs without regard to whether the condemnee has prevailed in the action or on any particular issue." Sorenson v. Czinger, 70 Wn. App. 270, 279, 852 P.2d 1124 (1993) (RCW 8.24.030 "does not limit the award of fees and costs to a prevailing party"). An attorney fee award under RCW 8.24.030 "is a matter of discretion with the trial court that will not be disturbed absent a clear showing of an abuse of that discretion." Shields v. Garrison, 91 Wn. App. 381, 388, 957 P.2d 805, 967 P.2d 1266 (1998) (citing Fluke Capital & Management Servs. Co. v. Richmond, 106 Wn.2d 614, 625, 724 P.2d 356 (1986)).
«5» Szabo Food Serv. acknowledged Corcoran but declined to construe 42 U.S.C. § 1988 so broadly as to authorize an award of fees. 823 F.2d at 1076-77. However, Szabo Food Serv. agreed with Corcoran to the extent that voluntary dismissal did not divest the trial court of its power to award attorney fees where appropriate. 823 F.2d at 1077-78.
statute does not define "action," we may resort to extrinsic aids, such as dictionaries, to find the word's ordinary meaning. Brenner v. Leake, 46 Wn. App. 852, 854-55, 732 P.2d 1031 (1987). In its legal sense, an "action" is a "lawsuit brought in a court." BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY 28 (6th ed. 1990). Under a plain reading of RCW 8.24.030, a condemnor who initiates an action is obligated to pay the condemnee's fees even if the condemnor later abandons the action through a voluntary dismissal.
But Beckman asks us to construe RCW 8.24.030 in light of RCW 8.25.075, a statute that contains a specific provision allowing a condemnee to recover attorney fees from a public condemnor who abandons the action.«6» He argues that because RCW 8.24.030 does not contain a similar specific provision authorizing fees, a private way of necessity condemnee cannot obtain a fee award when the condemnor abandons the action.
 A reviewing court can find that an act means something other than its plain language when the act is considered in pari materia with other acts. State v. McDougal, 120 Wn.2d 334, 351, 841 P.2d 1232 (1992). "Statutes in pari materia are those which relate to the same person or thing, or the same class of persons or things . . . ." State v. Houck, 32 Wn.2d 681, 684, 203 P.2d 693 (1949). "Statutes in pari materia must be construed together . . . and in construing [them], . . . all acts relating to the same subject matter or having the same purpose, should be read in connection therewith as together constituting one law." Houck, 32 Wn.2d at 684-85.
(b) The proceeding is abandoned by the condemnor.
materia; they relate to different things. The two statutes have different legislative histories and different public policies support them.«7» See Nelson v. Samuel, 43 Wn. App. 114, 119-20, 715 P.2d 161 (1986). Consequently, we do not construe the two statutes together.
The legislative history of fee awards for private way of necessity actions has evolved in the last thirty years. RCW 8.25.900, repealed in 1971, authorized an award of attorney and witness fees in private way of necessity actions. LAWS OF 1971, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 240, § 22; Daviscourt v. Peistrup, 40 Wn. App. 433, 437, 698 P.2d 1093 (1985). Consequently, Division One of this court held that statutory fees were recoverable for public condemnation actions only. Nelson, 43 Wn. App. at 119-20; Daviscourt, 40 Wn. App. at 447. Then, in 1988, the Legislature enacted RCW 8.24.030 in its current form, allowing for attorney fees for "any action" for a private way of necessity. LAWS OF 1988, ch. 129, § 3.
«7» The Legislature enacted RCW 8.25.075 "so that state and local governments could obtain financial aid in acquiring real property by meeting the requirements of the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, 42 U.S.C. § 4601 et seq. (1982)." Nelson v. Samuel, 43 Wn. App. 114, 118, 715 P.2d 161 (1986) (citing Daviscourt v. Peistrup, 40 Wn. App. 433, 442, 698 P.2d 1093 (1985)).
«8» The procedure for obtaining a private way of necessity is the same as for condemnation by railroad companies. RCW 8.24.030; RCW 8.20.070.
As in the Rule 11 situation, the critical question is not whether the party seeking payment was the prevailing party but rather whether that party met the specific legal requirements for recovery. In the Rule 11 context, "[A] voluntary dismissal does not expunge the Rule 11 violation." Cooter & Gell, 496 U.S. at 395. "The violation of Rule 11 is complete when the paper is filed." Szabo Food Serv., 823 F.2d at 1077. Similarly, the private way of necessity court retains authority to award attorney fees. See Szabo Food Serv., 823 F.2d at 1078 ("A district court that loses its power to decide the merits--perhaps because it has decided them once already--does not also lose power to award attorneys' fees that may be in order as a result of what happened before the final decision.").
«9» Citing Stote ex rel. Poison Logging Co. v. Superior Court, 11 Wn.2d 545, 569, 119 P.2d 694 (1941), Beckman argues that this interpretation of RCW 8.24.030 is inconsistent with the traditional condemnation rule that no compensation is payable to a condemnee until the time of taking. Poison is inapposite; it does not address attorney and witness fees, but rather discusses just compensation for the land taken or damaged. 11 Wn.2d at 569-70. The issue here is not compensation for damages but reimbursement of fees. RCW 8.24.030 makes that distinction: its first paragraph states that there shall be no taking without just compensation for the land taken or damaged; the second paragraph sets forth the provision for reimbursement of attorney and witness fees for "any action."
799, 805-06, 355 P.2d 827, 84 A.L.R.2D 660 (1960); Yoder v. Yoder, 105 Wash. 491, 497, 498, 178 E 474, 3 A.L.R. 1104 (1919) (courts will not follow the general rule that a trial court loses jurisdiction after a voluntary dismissal when to do so would be manifestly unjust).
Beckman argues, alternatively, that Wilcox's fee affidavits were inadequate to support the award. We disagree.
 This court reviews the reasonableness of an award of attorney fees under the abuse of discretion standard. Progressive Animal Welfare Soc'y v. University of Wash., 114 Wn.2d 677, 688, 790 P.2d 604 (1990).«10» A trial court abuses its discretion when it exercises it in a manifestly unreasonable manner or bases it upon untenable grounds or reasons. State v. Stenson, 132 Wn.2d 668, 701, 940 P.2d 1239 (1997), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 1193 (1998). The trial court must exercise its discretion in light of the particular circumstances of each case. Schmidt v. Cornerstone Inv., Inc., 115 Wn.2d 148, 169, 795 P.2d 1143 (1990).
Appointed Counsel submitting motions for fixing or payment of attorney fees and counsel requesting the Court to fix fees in any other case, shall itemize their time, services rendered or other detailed basis for the fee requested and attach a copy thereof to the motion.
«10» Beckman cites Dailey v. Testone, 72 Wn.2d 662, 664, 435 P.2d 24 (1967) to support his proposition that Wilcox must prove the reasonableness of the fees by a preponderance of the evidence. Dailey is inapposite in that it pertains to an attorney-client dispute over fees owing. 72 Wn.2d at 663. The cases pertaining to the reasonableness of statutory attorney fees do not cite to Dailey. Likewise, Seltzer v. Chadwick, 26 Wn.2d 297, 299-300, 173 P.2d 991 (1946), does not apply as it pertains to an attorney's claim of fees owing from an estate. The Supreme Court recognized that the attorney had provided legal services, but then held that the attorney could not claim fees when he produced no evidence as to the type of services performed and the value thereof. Seltzer, 26 Wn.2d at 303.
reasonableness of the fee request and "must provide reasonable documentation of the work performed." Bowers v. Transamerica Title Ins. Co., 100 Wn.2d 581, 597, 675 P.2d 193 (1983); Scott Fetzer Co. v. Weeks, 122 Wn.2d 141, 151, 859 P.2d 1210 (1993). "This documentation need not be exhaustive or in minute detail, but must inform the court, in addition to the number of hours worked, of the type of work performed and the category of attorney who performed the work (i.e., senior partner, associate, etc.)." Bowers, 100 Wn.2d at 597. "The determination of the fee award should not become an unduly burdensome proceeding for the court or the parties." Absher Constr. Co. v. Kent Sch. Dist. No. 415, 79 Wn. App. 841, 848, 917 P.2d 1086 (1995)).
Here, Wilcox attached 49 pages of invoices to its motion for fees. In general, the invoices describe the nature of the services rendered, the people involved, and the fees charged. But 20 specific entries contained blacked-out portions although they, nonetheless, described the nature of the services rendered and the fees billed. Seventeen of those entries were on one invoice. Substituted or undisturbed writing identified the blacked-out portions as the names of appraisers, one realtor, a client, and a "brief." A blacked-out appraiser's name was on another invoice. A third invoice contained two more blacked-out items.
The local court rule does not mandate that fee invoices contain the names of witnesses, clients, or others taking part in the activity charged by a particular attorney. Klickitat and Skamania Counties Local Superior Court Rule 11 (III) (A). And Beckman cites no legal authority requiring such detail. Further, the record shows that the trial court scrutinized the invoices with considerable care, excluding those few items it deemed inappropriate (one dealt with a nonrelated action, a few set forth expert fees for appraisers who were not scheduled to appear at trial, and one stated a surveyor's fee related to a rejected alternative easement).
of these invoices, did not make the documentation unreasonable or prevent the court from properly determining the fee award. Consequently, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion.
Wilcox requests attorney fees on appeal under RAP 18.1. Because we affirm the trial court's award of fees under RCW 8.24.030, Wilcox is entitled to fees on appeal upon compliance with RAP 18.1(d). Shields v. Garrison, 91 Wn. App. 381, 389, 957 P.2d 805, 967 P.2d 1266 (1998).
MORGAN and HOUGHTON, JJ., concur.

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