Opinion ID: 2633467
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the District Court Err in Awarding Bruce Bedke Attorney Fees?

Text: The district court found that the central issues in this case were whether Bruce Bedke had an easement for the pipeline and whether Pickett Ranch could deny him access to maintain and repair the pipeline. It determined that Bedke was the prevailing party because he prevailed on these two issues. Finally, it held that the Pooling Agreement was a commercial transaction and that Bedke was therefore entitled to an award of attorney fees under Idaho Code § 12-120(3). Pickett Ranch does not challenge the determination that Idaho Code § 12-120(3) applies to this case. Instead, it challenges the finding that Bruce Bedke is the prevailing party and the reasonableness of the attorney fee award. We are vacating the district court's finding that Bedke has an easement for the location of the new section of pipeline. We therefore also vacate the award of attorney fees. The final resolution of the location of the easement could impact the determination of whether Bedke is the prevailing party.