Opinion ID: 2051795
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Davis-Bacon Act and Attorneys' Fees

Text: The plaintiff contends that defendants violated the Davis-Bacon Act, found in 40 U.S.C. § 276(a), by failing to pay him the correct prevailing wage for work he did under three government contracts. The plaintiff and defendants stipulated at trial that the unpaid prevailing wages totaled $1,078. Thus, the trial justice ordered that judgment be entered in plaintiff's favor on count 1 for $1,078. Despite plaintiff's acquiescence in the stipulation, his notice of appeal asserts that the amount of the judgment on count 1 is insufficient. The plaintiff made no such objection at trial, and included no argument in support of this claim in his Supreme Court Rule 12A statement. Therefore, we will not review the amount of damages awarded for count 1 because of the failure to raise the issue before the trial justice. [5] See Harvey Realty v. Killingly Manor Condominium Association, 787 A.2d 465, 466-67 (R.I.2001) (citing Rhode Island Depositors Economic Protection Corp. v. Rignanese, 714 A.2d 1190, 1196-97 (R.I.1998) (restating our well settled raise-or-waive rule)). In count 2 of his complaint, plaintiff seeks to recover attorneys' fees under G.L. 1956 § 9-1-45 for the breach of contract claim in count 1. At the close of his decision on defendants' motion for judgment as a matter of law, the trial justice specifically reserved ruling on the attorneys' fees request and asked the parties to discuss the issues still remaining    that is, whether or not counsel fees are due in this matter. The plaintiff implies that the trial justice decided to deny the claim for attorneys' fees count by including count 2 in his appeal. However, it is clear from the record that no such determination was made. It is well settled that attorneys' fees may not be appropriately awarded to the prevailing party absent contractual or statutory authorization. Insurance Company of North America v. Kayser-Roth Corp., 770 A.2d 403, 419 (R.I.2001) (citing §§ 9-1-33 and 9-1-45). Pursuant to § 9-1-45, attorneys' fees may be awarded in breach of contract actions when the court: (1) Finds that there was a complete absence of a justiciable issue of either law or fact raised by the losing party; or (2) Renders a default judgment against the losing party. The plaintiff cannot complain to this Court that he is entitled to attorneys' fees under § 9-1-45 before the trial justice makes his determination. Instead, upon return of this case to the Superior Court, a decision should be made about the propriety of attorneys' fees on count 1. Therefore, plaintiff's appeal of counts 1 and 2 is denied and dismissed.