Opinion ID: 1161670
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attorney's fees for interviews, expert witnesses

Text: Belluomini also challenges $1,560 in fees for Fred Meyer's counsel's time spent interviewing and consulting with expert witnesses; he contends that Fred Meyer never called these witnesses at trial and informed Belluomini well before trial that it did not intend to call them. Fred Meyer responds that it had to consult with these witnesses to prepare to rebut the expert testimony that Belluomini initially stated he would present at trial but then did not. Fred Meyer also claims that it needed expert testimony to rebut testimony as to damages claims that Belluomini presented at trial. The record backs up Fred Meyer's argument that these attorney's fees were incurred for a legitimate purpose, and Belluomini does not establish that the amount of disputed fees was unreasonable.