Opinion ID: 795998
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Recovery of Fees and Costs

Text: 27 American Eagle next argues the district court abused its discretion by awarding Pittari his attorney fees and costs, see Salitros v. Chrysler Corp., 306 F.3d 562, 576 (8th Cir.2002) (stating standard of review is abuse of discretion), and erred by refusing to award American Eagle its own post-offer costs pursuant to Rule 68, see Perkins v. U.S. W. Comm., 138 F.3d 336, 338 (8th Cir.1998) (stating standard of review is de novo). Because we reverse the district court's denial of American Eagle's motion for judgment as a matter of law, the basis for the district court's ruling on these issues no longer exists. We therefore reverse the district court's order awarding Pittari recovery of his fees and costs and denying American Eagle its post-offer costs. 28 First, with regard to Pittari's recovery of attorney fees and expert witness fees, under our holding today, Pittari is no longer the prevailing party. Thus, he cannot recover his fees or costs under the ADA. See 42 U.S.C. § 12205 (permitting the court, in its discretion, to award attorney fees, litigation expenses, and costs to the prevailing party). 29 Second, American Eagle is entitled to its post-offer costs pursuant to Rule 68. Under Rule 68, if a plaintiff rejects a defendant's offer of judgment, and if the judgment finally obtained by the plaintiff is not more favorable than the offer, the plaintiff must pay the costs incurred by the defendant after the offer was made. Perkins, 138 F.3d at 338; see, e.g., O'Brien v. City of Greers Ferry, 873 F.2d 1115, 1120 (8th Cir.1989) (holding a plaintiff who refuses an offer of judgment under Rule 68 and later fails to receive a more favorable judgment must pay the defendant's post-offer costs). Before trial, American Eagle made Pittari an offer of judgment in the amount of $5,497.50, which Pittari did not accept. Under Rule 68, because Pittari rejected American Eagle's offer of judgment and failed to receive a more favorable judgment, Pittari must now pay American Eagle's post-offer costs. Because the district court is in a better position to calculate American Eagle's post-offer costs, we remand this matter to the district court to determine the amount of American Eagle's recovery.