Opinion ID: 1843539
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Greenhaw Fee Order

Text: Although we agree with the appellants that Rule 54(b) did not authorize the certification of the Reese Fee Order as a final judgment, we cannot conclude, as they urge us to do, that the noncertifiability of the Reese Fee Order provides a basis for a reversal of the Greenhaw Fee Order, which has now been properly certified in accordance with our March 20, 1997, order. Specifically, they contend that Judge Greenhaw erroneously concluded that she could not revisit the issue of the entitlement vel non to an award of attorney fees, believing, incorrectly, that the Reese Fee Order had become final and unchallenged by a timely appeal. Thus, they argue, because the Greenhaw Fee Order is based on a false premise, the judgment on which it is based must be reversed and the cause remanded for consideration as to whether the plaintiffs-cross appellants are, in fact, entitled to any award of fees. In support of this proposition, they cite the following portion of the Greenhaw Fee Order: This matter is before the court on applications for attorneys' fees and expenses filed by Plaintiffs' attorneys and Defendants' responses and opposition thereto. On March 31, 1993, the trial court entered judgment granting Plaintiffs injunctive and declaratory relief in what is commonly referred to as the `liability order.' On June 9, 1993, this order was made final pursuant to Rule 54(b), A.R.C.P. and the judgment was not appealed. On the same day a separate order was entered, which was also certified as a final judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b), A.R.C.P., and no appeal was taken from it. This order provided, in part: `8. The plaintiffs are entitled and allowed their costs and expenses, including the award of reasonable attorneys' fees for the attorneys for the plaintiffs, in such amounts as the court shall hereafter determine upon application of the plaintiffs ....' The threshold issue is whether this court has authority to award attorneys' fees pursuant to this order. As stated these orders were made final, which is in marked contrast to the October 22, 1993, Remedy Order wherein the court specifically retained jurisdiction over the matter. Furthermore, the Petition For Writ of Prohibition, Or Alternatively, For a Writ of Mandamus, filed by defendants did not include the above referenced June 9, 1993 order. That petition involved the orders of March 31, 1993, October 22, 1993 and December 3, 1993. Moreover, the Supreme Court of Alabama in its order of April 10, 1995 denying the petition, again determined that final orders not appealed within the time allowed cannot be considered by that Court. Finally, on April 18, 1996, the Supreme Court lifted its stay with regard to the issue of attorneys' fees. Based on the foregoing, this court is of the opinion the June 9, 1993 order allowing an award of attorneys' fees is final and a determination may be made regarding entitlement to such fees. (Emphasis added.) We disagree with the appellants' arguments for reversal on this ground, for two reasons. First, this Court has written: `Judgments are to be construed like other written instruments.' Hanson v. Hearn, 521 So.2d 953, 954 (Ala.1988). `Rules applicable to the construction and interpretation of contracts are applicable to the construction and interpretation of judgments.' Id.  Inter-Connect, Inc. v. Gross, 644 So.2d 867, 868 (Ala.1994). Simply stated, we construe the Greenhaw Fee Order as constituting an independent review of the Reese Fee Order. Particularly significant is Judge Greenhaw's statement: The threshold issue is whether this court has authority to award attorneys' fees pursuant to [the Reese Fee] [O]rder. (Emphasis added.) She followed up this statement with thorough analyses of various theories under which attorney fees might be awarded. Eventually, she concluded that she had authority to award fees to Harper and ADAP pursuant to the Civil Rights Attorney Fee Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. § 1988, and to ACE pursuant to the common fund theory. [1] Moreover, the amounts she awarded were substantialtotalling $3,599,735. Had she not concluded, based on an independent assessment of the right to attorney fees, that her court [had] authority to award attorneys' fees, regardless of the Reese Fee Order, she would, it seems likely, have awarded only nominal sums. Suffice it to say that these factorsher detailed analyses and the substantial amount of fees she ultimately awardedare entirely inconsistent with the appellants' construction of her order, namely, that it did not constitute an independent assessment of the entitlement. The language in the Greenhaw Fee Order on which the appellants rely may be regarded as harmless surplusage. This conclusion is fully consistent with the well-established rule that [a] correct decision will not be disturbed even if the court gives the wrong reasons. Davison v. Lowery, 526 So.2d 2, 4 (Ala.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 854, 109 S.Ct. 140, 102 L.Ed.2d 113 (1988). See also Hood v. Wilson, 496 So.2d 76 (Ala.Civ.App.1986). Thus, to the extent the Greenhaw Fee Order is otherwise correct, we will not reverse it based on any misconception Judge Greenhaw may have had regarding the finality of the Reese Fee Order.