Opinion ID: 2515085
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Food Pantry: the prevailing party is determined by the main issues.

Text: The general rule for attorney's fees has been further defined in a case where final judgment did not make clear which party had prevailed. Food Pantry, Ltd. v. Waikiki Business Plaza, Inc., 58 Haw. 606, 620, 575 P.2d 869, 879 (1978) (considering a lessor that prevailed on the basic issues of the case and was awarded damages, but was prevented from canceling the lease). In Food Pantry, this court concluded that where a party prevails on the disputed main issue, even though not to the extent of his original contention, he will be deemed to be the successful party for the purpose of taxing costs and attorney's fees. Id. (footnote omitted). To determine which party prevailed on the main issues, the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) has further held that [t]he trial court is required to first identify the principle issues raised by the pleadings and proof in a particular case, and then determine, on balance, which party prevailed on the issues. MFD Partners, 9 Haw.App. at 515, 850 P.2d at 716; see also Fought & Co., Inc. v. Steel Engineering & Erection, Inc., 87 Hawai'i 37, 53, 951 P.2d 487, 503 (1998).