Opinion ID: 2221873
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The District Court's Award of Attorney Fees and Expenses.

Text: The contract between EFCO and Norman provided: Customer agrees further, in case of its default to pay all amounts due hereunder plus interest and any and all charges and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by EFCO in taking possession of said property and in collecting amounts due hereunder. Under Iowa Code section 625.22, an express provision in a contract between parties authorizing the payment of attorney fees and litigation expenses is an authorization to a court in an action based on that contract to add attorney fees and litigation expenses to a favorable judgment. The determination of the amount of such fees and expenses is normally a matter entrusted to the discretion of the district court. Berryhill v. Hatt, 428 N.W.2d 647, 657 (Iowa 1988). In the present case, the district court awarded EFCO only those fees related to the trial of the Iowa matter plus its expenses in bringing witnesses to Iowa for purposes of appearing at that trial. The nature of the litigation was such that EFCO was forced to litigate the validity of Norman's counterclaim in order to establish the validity of its own claim. The amounts allowed were clearly within the district court's discretion and should not be overturned. We have considered all issues presented and conclude that the judgment of the district court should be affirmed. AFFIRMED.