Opinion ID: 2763453
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Applicability of W.R.C.P. 68

Text: [¶13] In arguing that W.R.C.P. 68 does not allow an award of costs in this case, Plaintiffs urge this Court to adopt the ruling in Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. August, 450 U.S. 346, 352, 101 S.Ct. 1146, 1150 (1981), wherein the United States Supreme Court held that federal Rule 68 is not a basis for an award of costs to a prevailing party. We agree that the Delta holding should apply to Wyoming’s Rule 68, and we therefore hold that it is W.R.C.P. 54(d), not W.R.C.P. 68, that governs an award of costs to a prevailing party. [¶14] In determining which rule of civil procedure governs an award of costs in a case where a Rule 68 offer is made, we are concerned with the interplay between Rule 54(d) and Rule 68. “Because of the similarities between federal and Wyoming rules of civil procedure, we look to federal authority interpreting a particular rule as an aid in applying the comparable Wyoming rule.” Bratton v. Blenkinsop (In re Guardianship of Bratton), 2014 WY 87, ¶ 24, 330 P.3d 248, 253, n.6 (Wyo. 2014); see also Lamar Outdoor Adver. v. Farmers Co-Op Oil Co., 2009 WY 112, ¶ 12, 215 P.3d 296, 301 (Wyo. 2009) (“Because the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure are patterned after the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, federal court interpretations of their rules are highly persuasive in our interpretation of the corresponding Wyoming rules.”). We therefore begin our consideration with a comparison of Wyoming’s Rules 54 and 68 with their federal counterparts. [¶15] Wyoming’s Rule 54(d)(1) specifies that “[e]xcept when express provision therefor is made either in a statute or in these rules, costs other than attorney’s fees shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs.” W.R.C.P. 54(d)(1) (LexisNexis 2014). Wyoming’s Rule 68 reads: At any time more than 60 days after service of the complaint and more than 30 days before the trial begins, any party may serve upon the adverse party an offer, denominated as an offer under this rule, to settle a claim for the money or property or to the effect specified in the offer, with costs then accrued.    If the judgment finally obtained by the offeree is not more favorable than the offer, the offeree must pay the costs incurred after the making of the offer. As used herein, “costs” does not include attorney’s fees.    W.R.C.P. 68 (LexisNexis 2014) (emphasis added). [¶16] The federal counterparts to both rules are similar. F.R.C.P. 54(d)(1) specifies that “[u]nless a federal statute, these rules, or a court order provides otherwise, costs--other than attorney’s fees--should be allowed to the prevailing party.” F.R.C.P. 68 reads: 4 (a) Making an Offer; Judgment on an Accepted Offer. At least 14 days before the date set for trial, a party defending against a claim may serve on an opposing party an offer to allow judgment on specified terms, with the costs then accrued.