Opinion ID: 880039
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the district court award excessive attorney's fees?

Text: Defendant agrees that an award of attorney's fees is appropriate because the sales contracts and Montana law provide for such fees. However, defendant states the award of $26,000 is excessive. Defendant explains that plaintiffs lost the first appeal in this case and that resulting attorney's fees from that appeal should not be paid by defendant. Additionally, defendant alleges a large portion of the plaintiffs' attorney's fees were paid for by a third party, and that other portions of plaintiffs' attorney's fees were generated as a result of a separate case. In determining what constitutes reasonable attorney's fees, this Court has stated that the following factors should be considered as guidelines: (1) the amount and character of the services rendered; (2) the labor, time, and trouble involved; (3) the character and importance of the litigation in which the services were rendered; (4) the amount of money or the value of the property to be affected; (5) the professional skill and experience called for; (6) the character and standing in their profession of the attorneys; and (7) the result secured by the services of the attorneys. See, Carkeek v. Ayer (1980), 188 Mont. 345, 347, 613 P.2d 1013, 1015; First Security Bank of Bozeman v. Tholkes (1976), 169 Mont. 422, 429, 430, 547 P.2d 1328, 1332; Crncevich v. Georgetown Recreation Corp. (1975), 168 Mont. 113, 119, 120, 541 P.2d 56, 59; and, Forrester and MacGinnis v. B. & M. Co. (1904), 29 Mont. 397, 409, 74 P. 1088, 1093. Determining what constitutes reasonable attorney's fees is a discretionary task for the District Court, and this Court will not disturb its judgment in the absence of an abuse of that discretion. Talmage v. Gruss (1983), 202 Mont. 410, 412, 658 P.2d 419, 420 (citing, Carkeek, 188 Mont. at 347, 348, 613 P.2d at 1015). The District Court specifically stated in its order dated May 4, 1987, that it considered plaintiffs' itemized statements, the supporting affidavits, and the general and local standards and criteria for the fixing of attorney's fees. The District Court actually reduced the amount of attorney's fees requested by the plaintiff from $29,575.07 to $26,000. After reviewing the plaintiffs' supporting affidavits and statements, the guidelines for determining reasonable attorney's fees, and the District Court order, we find no abuse of discretion and affirm the award of attorney's fees. Defendant also objects to the award of attorney's fees on the contentions that the fees have already been advanced by a third party and that a significant portion of the fees were generated due to a separate but similar case. Defendant cites no authority which prohibits a third party from advancing such fees for plaintiffs. Defendant does cite First National Bank of Great Falls v. Llera (1978), 176 Mont. 481, 487, 580 P.2d 100, 104, for the proposition that only parties with a contractual right to attorney's fees may receive an award for those fees pursuant to the contract. In this case, however, the plaintiffs are parties to the sales contracts and therefore may receive attorney's fees based on that contract. This is not altered merely because a third party advanced the fees. Additionally, there is no indication that the attorney's fees were incurred due to another case. Instead, it appears that plaintiffs have become genuinely obligated to pay significant amounts in attorney's fees as a result of pursuing this action. The District Court determined a reasonable amount for these services and we hold there is substantial evidence to make such a determination.