Opinion ID: 2624590
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Did the District Court err in awarding expert witness fees and costs to Sullivan and Eide?

Text: ¶ 46 The District Court awarded expert witness fees and other litigation costs claimed by Sullivan and Eide. The Bank points out that some of the expert witness fees and costs awarded by the District Court are not costs allowed under § 25-10-201, MCA. ¶ 47 However, Sullivan and Eide did not seek to recover these witness fees and costs under § 25-10-201, MCA, but under the terms of their guaranties. The guaranties provided Guarantor agrees to pay upon demand all of Lender's costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees and Lender's legal expenses, incurred in connection with the enforcement of this Guaranty. Contractual attorney fee and cost provisions are reciprocal. Section 28-3-704, MCA; Nicholson v. United Pacific, 219 Mont. 32, 46, 710 P.2d 1342, 1351 (1985), overruled in part on other grounds, Story v. City of Bozeman, 242 Mont. 436, 791 P.2d 767 (1990). ¶ 48 We hold the District Court did not err in awarding witness fees and costs to Sullivan and Eide. ¶ 49 Affirmed, and remanded to the District Court for determination of additional attorney fees incurred by Sullivan and Eide in post-trial matters not previously claimed and during this appeal. We Concur: JOHN WARNER, PATRICIA COTTER, W. WILLIAM LEAPHART, and BRIAN MORRIS, JJ.