Opinion ID: 1874238
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court err in granting defense motion for a directed verdict on appellants' claim for damages owed on a certain $2,500 in attorney's fees?

Text: We have allowed a party to recover attorney's fees as an element of damages depending on the situation. That a party may not be able to get his attorney's fees paid as part of the costs does not mean that attorney's fees are not a proper element of damages in an appropriate case. Where a grantee in a warranty deed was required to employ an attorney to perfect his title, payment of grantee's attorney's fees was part of the damages in a subsequent suit against the grantor for breach of warranty. Howard v. Clanton, 481 So.2d 272 (Miss. 1986). Similarly, where an insured is compelled to defend himself in an action because his insurer breached its contract in denying its obligation to defend him under its liability policy, the attorney's fees incurred in the defense of that action may be awarded the insured as contract damages in a subsequent action against the insurer. Rent-A-Scooter, Inc. v. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co., 285 Minn. 264, 173 N.W.2d 9 (1969). Grisham v. Hinton, 490 So.2d 1201, 1206 (Miss. 1986). The appellants contend that the court erred in refusing to allow the Estate's attorney to testify as to the attorney's fees which he incurred and which were charged to the Estate as a result of Switzer's alleged negligence. The court sustained an objection to this testimony as being speculative. The plaintiffs made a proffer that the attorney would have testified that additional attorney's fees in the amount of $2,500.00 were charged to the Estate because of Switzer's alleged negligence. This is one of those cases where attorney's fees could properly be an element of damages. If the attorney's fees were incurred as a result of the alleged negligence of Switzer, they could be considered as damages. The appellants should have been allowed to offer testimony on those attorney's fees as a part of the damages they were claiming.