Opinion ID: 1903202
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: whether the trial court erred in awarding judgment against s.c.r., requiring him to pay all of the fees and expenses of the guardian ad litem

Text: ¶ 51. S.C.R. asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in assessing against him one half of the remaining costs of the court's expert witnesses, Doctors Galloway and Wiedorn, and all of the fees and expenses of the guardian ad litem, Byron J. Stockstill. S.C.R. concedes that the court has authority to assess costs in the instant proceedings. However, he maintains that Doctors Galloway and Wiedorn, initially appointed as experts of the court, essentially became expert witnesses for F.W.K. and L.S.K. Further, S.C.R. argues that he should be required to pay no more than one half of Stockstill's fees and expenses, because F.W.K. and L.S.K. caused or requested the majority of the guardian ad litem's services. S.C.R. cites no legal authority in support of these arguments. ¶ 52. M.R.C.P. 54(d) provides for an award of costs to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs. The chancellor taxed S.C.R., the non-prevailing party, with certain costs related to the instant proceedings. Finding no legal authority or facts in the record which demonstrate an abuse of discretion on the part of the chancellor in assessing these fees, we affirm the judgment of the trial court in all respects. ¶ 53. AFFIRMED. PRATHER, C.J., PITTMAN, P.J., BANKS, SMITH, MILLS, WALLER AND COBB, JJ., CONCUR. McRAE, J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.