Source: https://thelegaltaxi.com/Home/Sample50StateSurveys
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 13:47:39+00:00

Document:
What are the laws and regulations relating to the recovery of costs for computerized legal research?
Alaska , Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,Kansas, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah,Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.
1. Atlantic Richfield Co. v. State, 723 P.2d 1249, 1251 (Alaska 1986) "Before the court may award expenses for the state's travel, paralegal assistance, and computer research time, it must first determine what portion of these expenses were necessarily incurred and therefore allowable under Civil Rule 79(b)."
the court may award the successful party reasonable attorney fees.
"Inasmuch as the computerized legal research was conducted and billed as a separate item to plaintiff, the Court finds that it is a proper item of costs. This billing was separate from attorney fees. Further, considering the issues presented, the Court finds that the research was necessary for trial preparation. Finally, the costs thereof were reasonable."
(1) The party recovering judgment shall recover all his or her legal costs and charges which shall be included in the Judgment; but this section does not apply to executors or administrators in actions when they are not liable for costs.
Georgia GA No Relevant Statutes found. No Regulations found.
the fee agreement to allow them. Our ruling that the agreement no longer controls permits the trial court freedom on remand to decide what credit, if any, is due the Brawleys for expenses that were not both necessary and reasonable, based upon their value to the Brawleys….As with other expenses, the trial court therefore must decide on remand whether the additional expenses sought by Ellerin were necessary and reasonable based upon their value to the Brawleys."
Hawaii HI No Relevant Statutes found. No Regulations found.
"Consequently, although the seventh circuit appears to agree with the ICA that computer-assisted research charges are not recoverable as taxable costs, there is some evidence to suggest that it might nevertheless award such computer-assisted research charges as a separately billed component of attorneys' fees."
"…the trial court's imposition of attorney fees and computer-aided research costs as a sanction under I.R.C.P. 11 was not an abuse of discretion."
provided that this section shall not alter, repeal or amend any statute which otherwise provides for the award of attorney's fees.
2. Idaho Appellate Rule 41. Attorney Fees on Appeal.
Attorney fees may include the reasonable cost of automated legal research if the court finds it was reasonably necessary in preparing the party's case.
Illinois IL No Relevant Statutes found. No Regulations found.
"We hold, therefore, that the computer-assisted legal research expenses are a form of attorney fees and are not separately recoverable as a cost or expense pursuant to the parties' contingent fee agreement. We express no opinion, however, as to whether computer-assisted legal research expenses are ever separately recoverable in a contingent fee agreement."
"We, therefore, conclude that Harris Bank should not recover the costs of photocopying, word processing, telecopier and computer research (i.e., Westlaw) charges it [*600] sought in its petition for attorney fees and costs."
Indiana IN No Relevant Statutes found. No Regulations found.
“costs” did not include expenses for “Westlaw charges”, “mounting/printing costs for exhibits”, “camera/film/developing costs for pictures”, “printing costs for exhibits”, and “copying expenses for trial”.
Kansas KS No Relevant Statute Found.
(d) expenses incurred by appointed attorneys in obtaining computerized legal research if the case presents a unique question of law to be researched. Such expenses 10 of 20 shall not exceed $ 200.
Massachusetts MA No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
1. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Kefalas, 11 Mass. L. Rptr. 139.
"Those costs are appropriate with the exception of the amount charged for online electronic research and for “courier fees.” The former is an element of overhead, not expense, and the latter often substitutes for regular mail even when time is not of the essence."
Montana MT No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
"Pohl opined that the amount of computer research time was reasonable in this case in which Brown wrote numerous briefs and that “the time [Brown] spent using Westlaw was money well spent, probably would have taken a lot more hours of research ... if he had come down here to the law library.” – fee was upheld"
"We disagree, however, that costs associated with Westlaw research were necessary. These costs may be common costs in modern law practice, but they primarily involve improving a law practice's efficiency. Therefore, the District Court could reasonably conclude that they were not necessary costs."
Nebraska NE No Relevant Statutes found. No Regulations found.
"However, we reverse the award of computer research, juror analysis and witness preparation expenses because these expenses are not allowable costs under § 18.005."
"In so holding, this court reasoned that attorneys incur computer research expenses as a function of their research of the law, so that the expense is more closely related to the attorney's fee than to the kinds of recoverable costs defined in §18.005."
No Relevant Case Law found.
17. Any other reasonable and necessary expense incurred in connection with the action, including reasonable and necessary expenses for computerized services for legal research.
New Jersey NJ No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
New Mexico NM No Relevant Statutes found. No Regulations found.
New York NY No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
d) The court, in any action brought under this Article may, in addition to any judgment awarded plaintiff, order costs and fees of the action and reasonable attorneys' fees to be paid by the defendant. In an action brought by the Commissioner in which a default judgment is entered, the clerk shall order attorneys' fees of three hundred dollars ($300.00) to be paid by the defendant.
No Regulations found. No Relevant Case Law found.
North Dakota ND No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
Ohio OH No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
A. In any civil action to recover for labor or services rendered, or on an open account, a statement of account, account stated, note, bill, negotiable instrument, or contract relating to the purchase or sale of goods, wares, or merchandise, unless otherwise provided by law or the contract which is the subject of the action, the prevailing party shall be allowed a reasonable attorney fee to be set by the court, to be taxed and collected as costs.
2. Atwood v. Atwood, 2001 OK CIV APP 48.
B. In any civil action to recover unpaid fees, fines, costs, expenses or any other debt owed to this state or its agencies, as defined pursuant to Section 152 of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes, unless otherwise provided by law, the prevailing party shall be allowed a reasonable attorney fee to be set by the court, to be taxed and collected as costs.
Oregon OR No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
The prevailing party in a civil action or special proceeding may recover expenditures necessarily incurred in gathering and procuring evidence or bringing the matter to trial. * * copying, costs of original and copies of transcripts and reporter's attendance fees, court appointed experts and other similar expenses and charges. These expenditures are termed "disbursements"
1. Casillas v. Schubauer, 2006 SD 42.
and are taxed pursuant to § 15-6- 54(d).
Texas TX No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
Utah UT No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
1. Stevenett v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 977 P.2d 508.
A. Any person who shall be injured in his reputation, trade, business or profession by reason . . . including a reasonable fee to plaintiff's counsel, and without limiting the generality of the term, "damages" shall include loss of profits.
Washington WA No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
Wyoming WY No Relevant Statute Found. No Regulation Found.
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