Opinion ID: 2634917
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Attorney fees were properly denied.

Text: The Taylors cross-appeal the district court's denial of their request for attorney fees. They maintain that they are entitled to attorney fees under the Earnest Money Agreement. The Mailes assert the Taylors are not entitled to attorney fees because they are not parties to the contract. An award of attorney fees is within the discretion of the trial court and subject to review for an abuse of discretion. Ransom v. Topaz Mktg., L.P., 143 Idaho 641, 643, 152 P.3d 2, 4 (2006). Whether a statute awarding attorney fees applies is a question of law over which we exercise free review. Id. at 644, 152 P.3d at 5. In addition, attorney fees may be awarded when provided for by contract. I.R.C.P. 54(e)(1). The district court properly denied the Taylors' motion for attorney fees. The court determined that the Taylors could not receive attorney fees pursuant to I.C. § 12-120(3) because the Earnest Money Agreement was between the Trust and the Mailes and, therefore, the Taylors were not a party to the transaction. Finally, the district court declined to award attorney fees pursuant to I.C. § 12-121 because it found the Mailes had not pursued their claims frivolously, unreasonably, or without foundation. We affirm the district court. The parties have argued the same basis for attorney fees in this appeal. For the same reasons we affirmed the district court, we deny attorney fees on appeal.