Opinion ID: 883671
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: appeal issue one attorney fees

Text: Tash argues that Unruh interfered with, encroached upon and impaired Tash's easement by physically rerouting the ditch, breaking the ditch bank, denying access to the ditch, conditioning access to the ditch and initiating litigation in which Tash was forced to defend his easement right. Tash further asserts that he had to forego at least one irrigation opportunity because of the litigation. He argues that under Kephart v. Portmann (1993), 259 Mont. 232, 855 P.2d 120, sufficient impairment has occurred to warrant an award of attorney fees. Unruh counters that encroachment or impairment requires more action than merely instituting a legal action against the alleged easement owner. Further, he contends that he has made every effort not to encroach or impair the use of the lateral ditch by Tash; neither has he refused access by Tash to the lateral ditch. However, because we are reversing the District Court on its decision granting summary judgment to Tash on the issue of whether he had established a prescriptive easement, we need not address the issue of attorney fees. This issue must be resolved by the District Court based upon its ultimate determination at trial. We remand the issue of attorney fees to the District Court for a final determination. It would also be premature to discuss the issue of Unruh's damages because the case is being reversed and remanded back to the District Court. The lower court must address issues of damages when the action returns to the District Court for a final determination.