Opinion ID: 1223823
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: part iv. appellee is entitled to appellate attorney fees.

Text: ¶ 26 10 O.S.1991, § 89.3 provides as follows: In an action to determine paternity brought pursuant to Section 89 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the prevailing party shall be allowed reasonable costs and attorney fees to be set by the court. ¶ 27 One of the statutes upon which this paternity suit was brought was 10 O.S.Supp.1995, § 89. Section 89(A), in relevant part, grants allowance to a child to bring a civil proceeding in district court to determine paternity and the amount of child support due and owing for the maintenance of the child. [5] When there is statutory authority to award attorney fees for legal services performed in the trial of a matter, additional attorney fees are allowable to the prevailing party for legal work rendered in the appellate court. Sisney v. Smalley, 1984 OK 70, 690 P.2d 1048, 1051. Section 89.3 is an unambiguous statute providing that the prevailing party shall be allowed their attorney fees for services performed in the trial court [ James v. Hopmann, 1995 OK CIV APP 105, 907 P.2d 1098], appellee is the prevailing party in this case, and she is entitled to recover for legal services rendered on appeal. The amount of attorney fees for such appellate legal services should be determined by the trial court on remand. 12 O.S.Supp.1995, § 696.4(C). [6] ¶ 28 In conformity with the views expressed in this opinion, the Court of Civil Appeals' memorandum opinion is VACATED, the trial court judgment is AFFIRMED and the matter is REMANDED to the trial court for a determination of the amount of appellate attorney fees to be awarded to appellee. ¶ 29 KAUGER, C.J., and HODGES, LAVENDER, WILSON and WATT, JJ., concur. ¶ 30 OPALA, J., concurs in part; dissents in part. ¶ 31 SUMMERS, V.C.J., and SIMMS and HARGRAVE, JJ., dissent.