Opinion ID: 1394420
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: I. Attorney's Fees are Warranted in this Case

Text: As observed by the majority, an award of attorney's fees is clearly warranted under the facts of this case. This Court previously has held that [t]here is authority in equity to award to the prevailing litigant his or her reasonable attorney's fees as `costs,' without express statutory authorization, when the losing party has acted in bad faith, vexatiously, wantonly or for oppressive reasons.  Syl. pt. 3, Sally-Mike Props. v. Yokum, 179 W.Va. 48, 365 S.E.2d 246 (1986) (emphasis added). Here, the record is replete with evidence demonstrating Jean K.'s ongoing quest to falsely and maliciously accuse her former husband of sexually abusing their youngest daughter in spite of the lack of any evidence indicating that he had, in fact, perpetrated such atrocities. In this regard, the circuit court, in its May 11, 2009, order, recounted various examples and consequences of Jean K.'s vexatious conduct: [A]fter this abuse and neglect Petition was filed [on March 23, 2007], and after the State chose not to proceed against the Father [Michael T.], the Respondent Mother [Jean K.] again falsely accused the father of sexually abusing [their daughter].... .... Father has incurred thousands of dollars of unnecessary attorneys' fees and costs in the above entitled proceeding because of Jean K[.]'s fraudulent allegations and her assertion of baseless and unfounded claims. Respondent Mother's conduct in this regard is hereby determined to have been vexatious and wanton. Respondent Mother's conduct herein has diverted attention from important issues concerning the welfare of these children, frustrated and delayed closure of this matter, and demonstrates an intent to occasioned [sic] oppress and harass the Respondent [Michael] T[.] Respondent Mother's conduct is the sole reason that this abuse and neglect proceeding was filed and is still pending. Respondent Mother has steadfastly refused to accept responsibility for her own conduct and her abuse of the children. Her defense has basically been to continue to accuse M[ichael] T[.] Respondent Mother's sexual abuse allegations against Respondent Father have all been previously determined by this Court, and the Family Court, to be unfounded, baseless and fraudulent. The entirety of Respondent Mother's allegations in this regard are without merit. Respondent Mother's conduct has caused [Michael] T[.] to endure severe financial strain and continuous financial instability due [to] the incessant false accusations, court hearings, appeals, etc.... [Michael] T[.] has had to unnecessarily incur attorneys' fees and costs to defend himself and the well-being of his family. Respondent Mother has acted fraudulently, in bad faith, vexatiously, wantonly and for oppressive reasons before the institution of the above captioned matter and throughout these proceedings. Also included in Jean K.'s course of oppressive conduct are no less than two domestic violence petitions and corresponding domestic violence protective orders setting forth Jean K.'s baseless allegations of Michael T.'s sexual abuse of their daughter, as well as Jean K.'s three prior appeals to this Court challenging the circuit court's findings that Michael T. was not responsible for their daughter's sexual abuse injuriesall three of which this Court refused. [1] Perhaps most troubling is that these false accusations of sexual abuse have languished in the court system for over three years! Because of Jean K.'s questionable motives and her unfathomable actions, both the parties' children and Michael T. have been prevented from finally putting this matter behind them and going forward with their lives. In short, the conduct exhibited by Jean K. during the course of the underlying abuse and neglect proceedings epitomizes the vexatious, bad faith, and oppressive conduct contemplated by this Court's Sally-Mike opinion so as to justify an award of attorney's fees and costs to Michael T.