Opinion ID: 3065183
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: denial of crockett’s attorneys’ fees

Text: [10] Under Nevada law, “a defendant shall be awarded reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred from the time of an offer of judgment if the plaintiff rejects it and fails to receive a more favorable result.” MRO Commc’ns, Inc. v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 197 F.3d 1276, 1281 (9th Cir. 1999). Because Fitzgerald rejected Crockett’s offer of judgment and ultimately recovered less than was offered, Crockett moved for both fees and costs. [11] The quantum meruit award of attorneys’ fees, however, is discretionary. See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 17.115(4)(d)(3); Nev. R. Civ. P. 68(f)(2); Chavez v. Sievers, 43 P.3d 1022, 1027 (Nev. 2002). The Nevada Supreme Court has held that: In exercising its discretion regarding the allowance of fees and costs under NRCP 68, the trial court must carefully evaluate the following factors: (1) whether the plaintiff’s claim was brought in good faith; (2) whether the defendants’ offer of judgment was reasonable and in good faith in both its timing and amount; (3) whether the plaintiff’s decision to reject the offer and proceed to trial was grossly unreasonable or in bad faith; and (4) whether the fees sought by the offeror are reasonable and justified in amount. Beattie v. Thomas, 668 P.2d 268, 274 (Nev. 1983) (internal citations omitted). [12] Crockett argues that the district court abused its discretion when it denied his request for fees. The record, however, reflects that the district court considered the four Beattie factors. Given the complexity of the claims, the novelty of the CROCKETT & MYERS v. NAPIER 14171 legal questions presented, and the amount requested, we are not left with a “definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” SEC v. Rubera, 350 F.3d 1084, 1093 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted).