Opinion ID: 1191964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: whether the district court erred in awarding attorney fees, costs and prejudgment interest against nwp.

Text: In Idaho, we adhere to the American rule which requires the parties to bear their own attorney fees absent statutory authorization or a contractual right. Idaho Dep't of Law Enforcement v. Kluss, 125 Idaho 682, 684, 873 P.2d 1336, 1338 (1994); see also I.R.C.P. 54(e)(1). Here, the district court awarded attorney fees to the prevailing parties on their lien claims pursuant to I.C. § 45-513, to the prevailing parties on their Utah bond claims pursuant to Utah Code § 14-2-2(3), and to the prevailing parties on their unjust enrichment claims pursuant to I.C. § 12-120(3). NWP argues that the district court erred in making these awards and in also awarding prejudgment interest to the claimants. With the exception of Michetti's lien claim, we agree with NWP. The awards of fees, costs and prejudgment interest to each of the plaintiffs except Michetti must be vacated on the ground that none of the parties, except Michetti, was entitled to such awards under the statutes cited. It is well settled that in lien foreclosure actions, the recovery of attorney fees is incidental to the foreclosure. Where the lien fails, no fee can be allowed. Boone v. P & B Logging Co., Inc., 88 Idaho 111, 117, 397 P.2d 31, 34 (1964). Thus, with the exception of Michetti, none of the plaintiffs who claimed liens has been successful in this action. Furthermore, we have held that neither the Utah bond statute nor the theory of unjust enrichment provide relief to any of the plaintiffs. Thus there can be no award under Utah Code § 14-2-2(3), and, under I.C. § 12-120(3), one must be a prevailing party in order to receive an award of fees. The district court's awards to the plaintiffs under these statutes are not appropriate. Accordingly, with the exception of Michetti, all awards of attorney fees, costs and prejudgment interest to the plaintiffs are vacated.