Opinion ID: 1364935
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Messenger Service.

Text: The trial court awarded Bergmann $98.50 for messenger service expenses. The federal courts disagree on the question of whether expenses for messenger services are recoverable costs. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has stated that courts routinely award the cost of air courier services pursuant to fee statutes. International Woodworkers of America v. Donovan, 769 F.2d 1388, 1392 (9th Cir. 1985). Other courts have held that parties generally may not recover the cost of messenger services. Dow Chem. Pac. Ltd., 640 F.Supp. at 886 (expenses for couriers a normal out-of-pocket disbursement not generally included in the taxable costs); Hollenbeck v. Falstaff Brewing Corp., 605 F.Supp. 421, 439 (E.D.Mo.1984), aff'd, 780 F.2d 20 (8th Cir.1985) (charges for Federal Express and local delivery service a non-taxable out-of-pocket expense). A third approach is to allow the district court to exercise its discretion in determining the extent to which such expenses were necessary and awarding an appropriate amount. See In re Chrysler Motors Corp., 137 F.R.D. 665, 673 (E.D.Mo.1991) (prevailing party's reliance on overnight courier became excessive, and therefore court awarded only one-third of amount claimed as a cost). We conclude that the federal district court's approach in In re Chrysler Motors Corp. is consistent with NRS 18.005(16). The trial court may award courier expenses to the extent that the court determines that the expenses incurred were reasonable and necessary. On the present record, we have no reason to believe that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding this cost.