Opinion ID: 2125422
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: costs awarded in declaratory judgment cases

Text: Section 32-23-10, NDCC, provides: In any proceeding under this chapter [authorizing declaratory judgments], the court may make such award of costs as may seem equitable and just. Pursuant thereto, the trial court awarded to the Bank costs of $1,439.50 against the City. The award was in the exact amount requested by the Bank's statement of costs and disbursements. Attorney's fees were not mentioned at any point in the trial court as far as we can determine. Although the City's notice of appeal specifically noted its dissatisfaction with the award of costs, it has presented no argument on the matter and we assume that that part of the City's appeal has been abandoned. The Bank, on the other hand, cross-appealed because the trial court failed to award it attorney's fees and its entire argument in support of its cross-appeal is: Costs in the context of that chapter [Ch. 32-23, NDCC] clearly can be read to include attorney's fees in addition to the other costs involved in the bringing of a declaratory action. It is elementary that an issue or contention not raised or considered in the lower court cannot be raised for the first time on appeal except on a theory of plain error. Rummel v. Rummel, 265 N.W.2d 230 (N.D.1978); Le Pire v. Workmen's Compensation Bureau, 111 N.W.2d 355 (N.D.1961). No argument has or can be made that an award of $1,439.50, under the discretionary authority of § 32-23-10, NDCC, is plain error. It appears evident that trial courts will be increasingly faced with arguments that attorney's fees can be awarded under a statute which authorizes costs. Professor Sands of the University of Alabama Law School discussed the matter in his article Attorney's Fees as Recoverable Costs, 63 ABA Journal 510, April 1977. Claims for attorney's fees are significant items in declaratory relief cases to determine duty to defend and coverage by liability insurance carriers. See, e.g., Aberle v. Karn, 316 N.W.2d 779 (N.D.1982), and Annotation-Insured's Right to Recover Attorney's Fees, 87 ALR3d 429. It appears that attorney's fees are usually not awarded against a city in declaratory judgment cases. See City of Vestavia Hills v. Randle, 292 Ala. 492, 296 So.2d 710 (1974), and Gettings v. City of Elgin, 16 Or.App. 140, 517 P.2d 686 (1974). There are cases to the contrary. See 12 Uniform Laws Annotated, Declaratory Judgments § 10 Costs. In this state we have not varied from the general rule for any type of cases, including declaratory judgment cases, that: Attorney's fees are not recoverable in an action unless expressly authorized by law. [Citation omitted.] This Court has said that costs (which under some provisions include attorney's fees) are purely the creature of statute and can be awarded only when expressly authorized by statute. [Citation omitted.] Hager v. Devils Lake Public School Dist., 301 N.W.2d 630, 635 (N.D.1981). Because the award of costs made by the trial court has not been shown to be an abuse of discretion, it is affirmed. The judgment is affirmed. Questions of public concern being involved, no costs on appeal will be allowed. ERICKSTAD, C. J., VANDE WALLE and SAND, JJ., and ROBERT L. ECKERT, District Judge, concur. ECKERT, District Judge, sitting in place of PAULSON, J., disqualified.