Opinion ID: 1808850
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Attorney's Fees under Civil Code art. 1997

Text: Plaintiff argues that, pursuant to C.C. art. 1997, he is entitled to attorney's fees due to Lafayette's bad faith breach of contract. Louisiana courts have long held that attorney's fees are not allowed except where authorized by statute or contract. E.g., Rivet v. State, 96-0145 (La.9/5/96), 680 So.2d 1154; State, DOTD v. Williamson, 597 So.2d 439, 441 (La. 1992). Article 1997 reads in its entirety, An obligor in bad faith is liable for all the damages, foreseeable or not, that are a direct consequence of his failure to perform. Neither the statute nor the insurance contract mentions attorney's fees. In keeping with our past holdings, we find that in cases of breach of contract, Article 1997 does not provide for an award of attorney's fees.