Opinion ID: 2339619
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attorney Fees for Claims of $10,000 or Less in RCW 4.84.250-.300

Text: ¶ 6 Generally, each party in a civil action must bear its own attorney fees. Cosmopolitan Eng'g Grp., Inc. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 159 Wash.2d 292, 296, 149 P.3d 666 (2006). RCW 4.84.250 is an exception to this general rule; it allows reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing party in any action where $10,000 or less is claimed by the pleading party, exclusive of costs. [1] RCW 4.84.250. To be a prevailing party under the statute a plaintiff must (1) seek recovery of $10,000 or less, (2) make an offer of settlement at least 10 days before trial, and (3) recover as much or more than it offered in settlement. RCW 4.84.250, .260. Alternatively, the defendant can be the prevailing party if either the plaintiff recovers nothing or the defendant makes an offer 10 days or more before trial and the plaintiff recovers as much or less than that offer. RCW 4.84.270. Finally, under RCW 4.84.290, the prevailing party on appeal shall be considered the prevailing party for the purpose of applying the provisions of RCW 4.84.250. These statutes have multiple purposes of encouraging out-of-court settlements, penalizing parties who unjustifiably bring or resist small claims, and enabling a party to pursue a meritorious small claim without seeing the award diminished by legal fees. Beckmann v. Spokane Transit Auth., 107 Wash.2d 785, 788, 733 P.2d 960 (1987) (citing Valley v. Hand, 38 Wash.App. 170, 684 P.2d 1341 (1984); Northside Auto Serv., Inc. v. Consumers United Ins. Co., 25 Wash.App. 486, 492, 607 P.2d 890 (1980)).