Opinion ID: 1532831
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Counsel Fees in CV-78-610

Text: As we said above, the administrative conduct of the City materially prolonged and unnecessarily complicated its dispute with Roy. We find that the record demonstrates beyond question that the City's administrative procedures were intentional. As a result, Roy requests this court to award attorneys' fees to him. Our courts have limited authority to award counsel fees (1) where the parties have so agreed, (2) where authorized by statute, and (3) for certain tortious conduct. See Thiboutot v. State, Me., 405 A.2d 230, 238 (1979), cert. granted, ___ U.S. ___, 100 S.Ct. 727, 62 L.Ed.2d 728 (1980) (No. 79-838). Here we are asked to award counsel fees to the losing party. Neither the statute (14 M.R.S.A. § 1501) nor the rule (M.R.Civ.P. 54(d)) envisions such an award but, rather, each allows costs to the prevailing party unless the court orders otherwise. Roy cites no authority for an award of counsel fees under the circumstances herein, nor have we found any. [3]