Opinion ID: 2499779
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Gebhart Witness Fees

Text: [¶ 19] The district court assessed against Jones a witness fee of $266.40 for the attendance of Jerry Gebhart at the trial. The majority of that cost was for Mr. Gebhart's travel from Phoenix, Arizona. Jones contends the witness fee should be limited to the $15.00 allowed a witness for half a day's travel and testimony because Gebhart's permanent residence is in Wheatland, approximately one mile from the courthouse, and his testimony lasted only fifteen minutes. We disagree. [¶ 20] Rule 501(a) provides as follows regarding witness fees: Witness fees are allowed at the rate of $30.00 per day and $15.00 per half day necessarily spent traveling to and from the proceeding and in attendance at the proceeding. Mileage is allowed at the rate of $.23 per mile, not to exceed the costs of common carrier transportation rates. Wyo. U.R.D.C. 501(a)(3)(B)(i). Nothing in the rule restricts the compensation to travel from the witness's residence to the courthouse. In fact, the rule contemplates travel from other locations in its cost certification requirements. Rule 501 requires that the certificate of costs identify the witness's place of residence or the place where subpoenaed. Wyo. U.R.D.C. 501(a)(1)(B). [¶ 21] The record contained verified documentation of Mr. Gebhart's travel costs from Phoenix and evidence that his travel and testimony together consumed an entire day. The district court did not abuse its discretion in its award of Mr. Gebhart's witness fees.