Opinion ID: 1248328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Kirwans' Motion for Attorney Fees on Appeal.

Text: The Kirwans have moved for attorney fees both in connection with their appeal to the Court of Appeals and in connection with their petition for further review. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 44-359 (Reissue 1998) provides as follows: In all cases when the beneficiary or other person entitled thereto brings an action upon any type of insurance policy... against any company, person, or association doing business in this state, the court, upon rendering judgment against such company, person, or association, shall allow the plaintiff a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee in addition to the amount of his or her recovery, to be taxed as part of the costs. If such cause is appealed, the appellate court shall likewise allow a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee for the appellate proceedings.... This is a procedural statute, and accordingly, Nebraska law applies. See Hawkeye Casualty Co. v. Stoker, 154 Neb. 466, 48 N.W.2d 623 (1951). Under the foregoing statute, attorney fees are likewise allow[ed] on appeal. We read likewise to refer to the terms by which attorney fees are allowed by the trial court. The trial court shall allow attorney fees to the beneficiary or other person entitled to bring an action on an insurance policy upon rendering judgment against such insurance-related defendant in addition to the amount of his or her recovery. Thus, attorney fees are to be awarded in addition to the amount of [the] recovery. Because the Kirwans were not successful on appeal in obtaining an amount of ... recovery, they are not entitled to attorney fees on appeal under § 44-359. See, generally, American Family Ins. Group v. Hemenway, 254 Neb. 134, 575 N.W.2d 143 (1998). The Kirwans' motion for attorney fees is denied.