Opinion ID: 1937915
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: whether the trial court erred in denying wife's request for attorney fees.

Text: By notice of review, wife requests the court to award attorney fees incurred at the trial court level. The trial court denied any award of attorney fees to either party. In determining whether or not to award attorney fees, the trial court should consider the amount and value of the property involved, the intricacy and importance of the litigation, the labor and time involved, the skill required to draw the pleadings and the trying of the cause, the discovery procedures utilized, whether there exists any complicated legal problems, the time required to try the cause, and whether written briefs were required. Lien v. Lien, 278 N.W.2d 436 (S.D.1979). In denying attorney fees to both parties, the trial court cited Lien and stated that it had considered these factors in arriving at its decision. Awarding of attorney fees is left to the sound discretion of the trial court and such decision will not be interfered with by this court unless an abuse of discretion is found. We find no such abuse of discretion. We conclude, however, when considering the appropriate factors, that wife is entitled to an award of $1500 in appellate attorney fees. Affirmed. WUEST, C.J., and MORGAN and SABERS, JJ., concur. HENDERSON, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.