Opinion ID: 2521476
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: special master's motion for appeal-related attorney's fees

Text: ¶ 12 Special master filed his Motion for Appellate Attorney's Fees pursuant to 12 O.S. § 696.4(C), such motion having been separately identified and contained within his Answer Brief on appeal. In addition to citation to 20 O.S. § 15.1 [15] and one COCA case construing § 15.1, special master additionally argues compelling and overriding equitable considerations created by Husband's delay, hindrance and general uncooperativeness justifies the award of appeal-related attorney's fees to special master in this case. ¶ 13 The general rule is [a]ppeal-related attorney fees are recoverable if statutory authority exists for their award in the trial court. Casey v. Casey, 2002 OK 70, ¶ 26, 58 P.3d 763, 772 (footnotes omitted). This case presents a unique question concerning a non-party's quest for appeal-related attorney's fees. We are unaware of express statutory authority for the recovery of a special master's attorney fees. However, statutory authority exists for the award of  compensation [to referees] for their services as the court may deem just and proper, which shall be taxed as part of the costs in the case. 12 O.S. § 619 (emphasis added). [16] Further, § 619 has been interpreted to apply to compensation of special masters. Oklahoma Oil & Gas Exploration Drilling Program v. W.M.A. Corp., 1994 OK CIV APP 11, 877 P.2d 605, 612. ¶ 14 In this case, the trial court ordered Husband to pay the fees and costs of special master and the COCA affirmed this award pursuant to 12 O.S. § 619. While we agree with the lower courts' determination that special master was entitled to recover fees and costs as compensation for his services in accordance with § 619, we disagree with the COCA's characterization of § 619 as statutory authority for an attorney fees award. Since § 619 does not authorize an attorney fees award in the trial court, it follows that 12 O.S. § 619 is likewise an improper basis for special master's recovery of appeal-related attorney fees. ¶ 15 Special master seeks recovery of appeal-related attorney fees pursuant to 20 O.S. § 15.1, which permits the prevailing party [to] petition the court for an additional attorney fee for the cost of the appeal. We have construed this statute to permit the recovery of appeal-related attorney fees against an appealing party bringing a patently frivolous appeal, which is an appeal with absolutely no legitimate legal or factual basis. TRW/Reda Pump v. Brewington, 1992 OK 31, 829 P.2d 15, 22. Based upon our review of the record, it cannot be concluded that Husband's appeal lacked any legitimate legal or factual basis, although Husband was ultimately unsuccessful. Since Husband's appeal cannot be characterized as patently frivolous, special master is therefore not entitled to recovery of his appeal-related attorney fees pursuant to 20 O.S. § 15.1. ¶ 16 Finally, to the extent special master's assertion of compelling and overriding equitable considerations equates to a demand for the balancing of judicial equities as between special master and Husband, special master cites no authority in support of the application of such a balancing of judicial equities test as between a non-party special master and a party to an underlying divorce action in support of recovery of appeal-related attorney fees. [17] A proposition which is unsupported by citation to authority will not be considered on appeal. Witt v. Westheimer, 1938 OK 249, 79 P.2d 250; Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. Jenkins, 1967 OK 54, 431 P.2d 349; see Vernor v. Poorman, 1916 OK 608, 158 P. 615 (providing attorneys who present cases here have no right to place the burden upon this court and consume their time in a laborious research for authorities to support their argument.). In light of these authorities, special master's Motion for Appeal-Related Attorney's Fees is denied.