Opinion ID: 1131632
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Need for Findings

Text: Although, in the absence of a request for special findings by one of the parties, the court may make special or general findings, ORCP 62 A, the award of attorney fees under ORS 20.105(1) is a situation in which special findings are a prerequisite to meaningful review by an appellate court. See Tyler v. Hartford Insurance Group, 307 Or. 603, 771 P.2d 274 (1989) (requiring findings by Court of Appeals in cases under ORS 20.105(1)); see also Amey, Inc. v. Gulf Abstract & Title, Inc., 758 F.2d 1486, 1508 (11th Cir.1985), cert. den. 475 U.S. 1107, 106 S.Ct. 1513, 89 L.Ed.2d 912 (1986) (under Florida law, the trial court must make a specific finding of `complete absence of justiciable issue of either law or fact' or face reversal or remand on the award of attorney's fees.). Not only should the trial court make findings regarding the merit of the party's claim, defense, or ground for appeal or review, and which of the three grounds under ORS 20.105(1) the court is considering, but it should also specify which actions of the party are violative of the statute.