Opinion ID: 2087928
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: evidence of attorneys' fees

Text: During discovery, Admiral asked Cooper to disclose the names of any expert witnesses he intended to call, the substance of their opinions, and any reports they had rendered. It also asked for a listing of each item of damage claimed by Cooper, the method by which it was calculated, and any supporting documentation. No experts were disclosed in response to those requests, nor was any amount of attorneys' fee disclosed as an item of damages. At trial, the issue of attorneys' fees first arose when Cooper was asked about his retaining of an attorney and an objection was lodged. His attorney had apparently prepared a summary statement that he intended to offer, to which Admiral objected, largely on the ground that the statement had not previously been disclosed. The court directed Cooper's attorney to prepare a detailed bill and to deliver a copy of it to Admiral's attorney, who would have the evening to examine it. The next morning, the attorney informed the court that he had prepared and sent a more detailed statement to Admiral's attorney and was prepared to testify as an expert as to the reasonableness of the bill. Admiral objected both to the statement and to the attorney's testifying as an expert, on the ground that he had not had an opportunity to prepare for that evidence. The court overruled the objection and, eventually, allowed the attorney to testify about the statement and that the fee, of $12,709, was reasonable. It was based on just over 83 hours of time, billed at $150 per hour, plus $310 in advanced costs. The statement was then admitted into evidence. Admiral cites a number of cases in which this Court and the Court of Special Appeals have affirmed trial court decisions precluding the admission of evidence not disclosed in response to valid discovery requests. What it overlooks, however, is the governing principle that the appropriate sanction for a discovery or scheduling order violation is largely discretionary with the trial court, and that the more draconian sanctions, of dismissing a claim or precluding the evidence necessary to support a claim, are normally reserved for persistent and deliberate violations that actually cause some prejudice, either to a party or to the court. See Starfish Condo. v. Yorkridge Serv., 295 Md. 693, 458 A.2d 805 (1983); Broadwater v. Arch, 267 Md. 329, 297 A.2d 671 (1972); Evans v. Howard, 256 Md. 155, 259 A.2d 528 (1969). We find no abuse of discretion in this case. Admiral knew from the beginning that a claim for attorneys' fees was being made and that the full amount of those fees could not be determined at least until trial was completed. Admiral had an opportunity, albeit a limited one, to examine the detailed statement produced by Cooper's attorney and to challenge either its accuracy or reasonableness. In any event, as we are remanding for further consideration of the attorney's fees, Admiral will have another opportunity to make such a challenge.