Opinion ID: 2329163
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: The Doughertys' recovery of attorney fees pursuant to the parties' listing and purchase agreements

Text: The Doughertys next argue that the district court erred in determining that they are not entitled to an award of attorney fees pursuant to the listing and purchase agreements for the Augusta Property and the purchase agreement for the Ping Property. In particular, they assert that although the district court awarded them attorney fees under the offer of judgment rule, they are entitled to an additional award of fees under the terms of these agreements for their successful defense of Davis's and Platinum's breach of contract actions. While the district court's award of attorney fees is typically reviewed for an abuse of discretion, Kahn v. Morse & Mowbray, 121 Nev. 464, 479, 117 P.3d 227, 238 (2005), our plenary review is implicated when questions of law, such as in the interpretation of a contract, are at issue. Benchmark Insurance Company v. Sparks, 127 Nev. ___, ___, 254 P.3d 617, 620 (2011); Valley Elec. Ass'n v. Overfield, 121 Nev. 7, 9, 106 P.3d 1198, 1199 (2005). In general, a district court may not award attorney fees ... unless authorized to do so by a statute, rule or contract. U.S. Design & Constr. v. I.B.E.W. Local 357, 118 Nev. 458, 462, 50 P.3d 170, 173 (2002). Parties are free to provide for attorney fees by express contractual provisions. See Musso v. Binick, 104 Nev. 613, 614, 764 P.2d 477, 477 (1988). The objective in interpreting an attorney fees provision, as with all contracts, is to discern the intent of the contracting parties. Cline v. Rocky Mountain, Inc., 998 P.2d 946, 949 (Wyo.2000). [Traditional rules of contract interpretation [are employed] to accomplish that result. Id. Therefore, the initial focus is on whether the language of the contract is clear and unambiguous; if it is, the contract will be enforced as written. Ellison v. C.S.A.A., 106 Nev. 601, 603, 797 P.2d 975, 977 (1990). Here, the Augusta Property listing agreement provides: ATTORNEYS FEES: In the event suit is brought by either party to enforce this Agreement, the prevailing party is entitled to court costs and reasonable attorneys fees. Likewise, the purchase agreements for the Augusta Property and the Ping Property each state: Should any party hereto retain counsel for the purpose of initiating litigation to enforce or prevent the breach of any provision hereof, or for any other judicial remedy, then the prevailing party shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the losing party for all costs and expenses incurred thereby, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys fees and costs incurred by such prevailing party. The language of these agreements is clear and unambiguous. All three agreements provide, in straightforward language, that in the event suit is brought to enforce the agreements, the prevailing party is entitled to attorney fees incurred in defense or prosecution of the action. Thus, because the Doughertys successfully defended against Davis's and Platinum's breach of contract actions, pursuant to the clear language of these agreements, the Doughertys are entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees incurred in defense of those particular claims. See Valley Elec. Ass'n, 121 Nev. at 10, 106 P.3d at 1200 (explaining that parties prevail if they succeed on any substantial aspect of the case and noting that the term prevailing party is broadly construed so as to encompass plaintiffs, counterclaimants, and defendants). Accordingly, we conclude that the district court erred in denying the Doughertys' motion for attorney fees under these agreements. [9]