Opinion ID: 2576002
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: the daltosos are entitled to sanctions on appeal

Text: The Daltosos argue for an award of attorney fees on appeal pursuant to I.A.R. 41(a) and I.C. § 12-121. They assert that Campbell and Kildew have pursued this appeal frivolously and have asked this Court to do no more than second-guess the trial court's well-reasoned decision based on the evidence presented. Additionally, the Daltosos argue Campbell and Kildew's conduct should be sanctioned under I.A.R. 11.1 and I.R.C.P. 11(a)(1). Both parties committed fraud upon the district court and yet frivolously tried to shift the blame for their conduct onto the district court. The Daltosos assert that such conduct merits sanctions. This Court agrees. Where a case involves a novel legal question, attorney fees should not be granted under I.C. § 12-121. Weaver v. Stafford, 134 Idaho 691, 701, 8 P.3d 1234, 1244 (2000). As noted above, this case involved the novel issue of whether a non-party has standing to challenge the confirmation of an arbitration award. For this reason an award of attorney fees is not appropriate on appeal. However, sanctions under Idaho Appellate Rule 11.1 are merited. I.A.R. 11.1 is virtually identical to Rule 11(a)(1) of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure. Campbell and Kildew appealed a case in which they previously engaged in a fraud upon the court. Despite the novel issue of standing as to the Daltosos, the district court had the inherent power to set aside the confirmed arbitration award. The filing of the appeal on the issues related to the ACC is a continuation of the sanctionable conduct, inviting further sanctions against the parties (not the attorneys) on appeal. Pursuant to I.A.R. 11.1 this Court will impose sanctions.