Opinion ID: 874066
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether Appellants are entitled to attorney fees on appeal.

Text: Finally, Chavez argues on appeal that he is entitled to attorney fees on appeal pursuant to I.C. §§ 12-121 and 12-117(1). However, during oral argument, Chavez stated, I'm not going to say I'm entitled to attorney fees, I'm not going to argue that. Regardless of the fact that Chavez may have waived this issue, we find that he is not entitled to attorney fees on appeal. An award of attorney fees on appeal under I.C. § 12-121 is appropriate when an appeal is brought, pursued, or defended frivolously, unreasonably, or without foundation. Crowley v. Critchfield, 145 Idaho 509, 514, 181 P.3d 435, 440 (2007). In his appellate briefs, Chavez did not provide authority for this issue, nor did he argue how this appeal was defended frivolously, unreasonably, or without foundation by the County. Without such, it will not be considered on appeal. Bagley v. Thomason, 149 Idaho 799, 805, 241 P.3d 972, 978 (2010); I.A.R. 35(a)(6). Attorney fees on appeal under I.C. § 12-117(1) are applicable in any administrative proceeding or civil judicial proceeding involving as adverse parties a state agency or political subdivision and a person. We have previously held that I.C. § 12-117(1) does not permit attorney fees on petitions for judicial review, as a petition for judicial review is neither an `administrative proceeding' nor a `civil judicial proceeding.' In re City of Shelley, 151 Idaho 289, 295, 255 P.3d 1175, 1181 (2011) (citing Smith v. Washington Cnty. Idaho, 150 Idaho 388, 390-92, 247 P.3d 615, 617-19 (2010)). Here, we have a civil judicial proceeding that was improperly converted by the district court into a petition for judicial review. Normally, this would affect the issue of 12-117(1) fees. However, in this case, the Court does not need to reach the merits of this issue because to the extent that Ismael Chavez represented himself, he is not entitled to attorney fees. An attorney acting as a pro se litigant is not entitled to an award of attorney fees on appeal. Barbee v. WMA Sec., Inc., 143 Idaho 391, 397, 146 P.3d 657, 663 (2006); Bowles v. Pro Indiviso, Inc., 132 Idaho 371, 377, 973 P.2d 142, 148 (1999). Chavez's request for attorney fees on appeal is denied.