Opinion ID: 1414212
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Issue 3: Attorney Fees are an Element of Costs

Text: Hell's Canyon maintains that the `costs' Mutual of Enumclaw is obligated to pay under Section II, Supplementary Coverages 2.a. should be interpreted to include attorney fees. Though the word `costs' as a legal term of art may be ambiguous, it is not so from the perspective of the ordinary person unfamiliar with the jargon of the legal and insurance professions standing in the position of the insured. An insurance policy must be interpreted from that perspective. Wardle v. International Health & Life Ins. Co., 97 Idaho 668, 551 P.2d 623 (1976); Shields v. Hiram C. Gardner, Inc., 92 Idaho 423, 444 P.2d 38 (1968). Similarly, where the policy language is clear and unambiguous, there is no occasion for construction, and coverage must be determined according to the plain meaning of the words employed. Kromrei v. AID Ins. Co. (Mut.), 110 Idaho 549, 716 P.2d 1321 (1986). Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1966) and (1981) defines the term `costs' in relevant part as: 4. costs pl.: expenses incurred in litigation; as a: those payable to the attorney or counsel by his clients esp. when fixed by law b: those given by the law or the court to the prevailing against the losing party in equity and frequently by statute  called also bill of costs ... The definition represents the common understanding of the term `costs.' The plain, ordinary and popular meaning of `costs' is the expense of litigation which includes attorney fees.