Opinion ID: 1424214
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the superior court's disallowance of certain costs.

Text: Beadles argues that the superior court should have awarded costs for expert witnesses, non-expert witnesses, photographic enlargement of exhibits, travel expenses for counsel to travel to Colorado Springs, postage, filing fees for a petition for review, and service of process fees. The award and amount of costs and fees is committed to the broad discretion of the court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear showing that the trial court's determination was arbitrary, capricious, or manifestly unreasonable, or that it stemmed from an improper motive. Alvey v. Pioneer Oilfield Serv., 648 P.2d 599, 601 (Alaska 1982), citing Tobeluk v. Lind, 589 P.2d 873, 878 (Alaska 1979). The superior court implicitly determined that Beadles' non-expert witnesses were needed for less than three hours. Since Beadles offered no evidence to the contrary, we deem his first claim of error in regard to costs to be without merit. [7] Each of Beadles' expert witnesses who testified for one hour received $37.50 and those who testified for two hours received $62.50. In light of the fact that Administrative Rule 7(c) permits a maximum of $25.00 per hour for expert testimony, we see no error in the court's ruling. [8] Two of Beadles' medical experts flew to Fairbanks from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and another of Beadles' experts incurred significant travel expenses. The superior court in these three instances awarded only $12.50. This ruling was erroneous in view of the provisions of Administrative Rule 7(b). [9] The superior court denied Beadles' counsel's expenses for a trip to Colorado Springs to interview witnesses, concluding that a telephone interview would have sufficed. We cannot say that it was unreasonable on the superior court's part to find it unnecessary for Beadles' counsel to fly to Colorado Springs to interview prospective witnesses. Cf. Eagle Air v. Corron & Black/Dawson & Co., 648 P.2d 1000 (Alaska 1982). [10] The superior court also denied costs for postage, service of process on defendants other than Alyeska, and for filing a petition for review of the superior court's ruling on the summary judgment motion as to punitive damages. [11] Civil Rule 79(b) allows costs for postage when service is by mail or to enable a party to secure some right accorded to him in the action or proceeding. The court awarded Beadles no costs for postage. In our view this was erroneous and the question of postage costs will be remanded for redetermination. However, the superior court did not err in refusing to award costs for service of process on other defendants. See Bovee v. LaSage, 664 P.2d 160, 165 (Alaska 1983). Nor did the court err in rejecting any award for costs in connection with Beadles' failed petition for review. Appellate Rule 508(a) generally prohibits costs if a petition is denied by an appellate court. [12]