Opinion ID: 2547527
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Litigation Accountability Act (LAA)

Text: ¶ 20. Hooker argues that the LAA does not authorize awarding attorney's fees based on the filing of a lis pendens. While the filing of the lis pendens notice itself does not constitute an action subject to the LAA, a defense to an action to remove a lis pendens, filed without substantial justification, may form the basis of an award under the LAA. ¶ 21. The LAA allows costs and expenses for claims or defenses asserted without substantial justification: [I]n any civil action commenced or appealed in any court of record in this state, the court shall award . . . reasonable attorney's fees and costs against any party or attorney if the court, upon the motion of any party or on its own motion, finds that an attorney or party brought an action, or asserted any claim or defense, that is without substantial justification, or that the action, or any claim or defense asserted, was interposed for delay or harassment. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-5(1) (Rev.2002) (emphasis added). The LAA defines an action as involving not only a claim, but also a defense: Action means a civil action that contains one or more claims for relief, defense or an appeal of such civil action. For purposes of this chapter only, an action also means any separate count, claim, defense or request for relief contained in any such civil action. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-3 (Rev.2002) (emphasis added). ¶ 22. The LAA provides for the award of attorney's fees for actions taken by parties or their attorneys within the confines of a civil action. The provisions of the LAA are in harmony with those of Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 11, which allows for the awarding of attorney's fees as a sanction. Rose v. Tullos, 994 So.2d 734, 738 (Miss.2008). The LAA merely augments Rule 11 by stating that the court shall specifically set forth the reasons for awarding attorney fees and costs and enumerates factors which shall be considered by the court. Rose, 994 So.2d at 738 (quoting Stevens v. Lake, 615 So.2d 1177, 1184 (Miss.1993)). The LAA's definition of action, in which it also discusses claims and  defenses,  is similarly designed to restrict the LAA's applicability to filings within the confines of a civil action. See Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-3; see also Randolph v. Lambert, 926 So.2d 941, 944 (Miss.Ct.App.2006) (The court will only award fees when a party brings frivolous or bad faith litigation. ) (emphasis added).