Opinion ID: 1200657
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the Trial Court Err in Awarding Linda Attorney's Fees?

Text: Tommy asserts that the superior court erred in awarding Linda $7,000 of her requested $9,171.06 in attorney's fees. Linda argues that the award was proper given her prevailing party status, their disparate incomes, and Tommy's wrongdoing. We review a trial court's award of attorney's fees under Alaska Civil Rule 82 for abuse of discretion. O'Link, 632 P.2d at 231. The attorney's fees award must be vacated if Tommy prevails on remand. The divorce judgment exception to Rule 82 does not apply to post-judgment modification and enforcement motions. L.L.M. v. P.M., 754 P.2d 262, 264 (Alaska 1988). Fees are appropriately awarded under the prevailing party standard of Rule 82 for post-judgment money and property issues. Id. The parties' relative economic positions are irrelevant under Rule 82. Linda's attorney's itemized billing includes all work done on the case, including the custody and visitation issues. Work on those issues is not properly chargeable to Tommy under Rule 82. If Linda prevails on remand, the court must accordingly reconsider the attorney's fee award. REVERSED and REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.