Opinion ID: 1323426
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Substantive IssueReasonable Attorney's Fees

Text: In syllabus point 3 of Sally-Mike Properties v. Yokum, No. 16987 (W.Va. June 12, 1986), this Court held: There is authority in equity to award to the prevailing litigant his or her reasonable attorney's fees as `costs,' without express statutory authorization, when the losing party has acted in bad faith, vexatiously, wantonly or for oppressive reasons. In the case now before us there was sufficient evidence of wanton, willful or malicious conduct to support the jury's finding of liability for punitive damages. Similarly, there was sufficient evidence of bad faith, vexatious, wanton or oppressive conduct to support an award of reasonable attorney's fees. Moreover, an award of reasonable attorney's fees is particularly appropriate in this case given the constitutional implications of the appellee's conduct. Allen v. State Human Rights Commission, ___ W.Va. ___, ___, 324 S.E.2d 99, 127 (1984). Accordingly, we hold that the appellant is entitled to recover his reasonable attorney's fees.