Opinion ID: 1858836
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the amount of attorneys' fees was reasonable

Text: ¶ 24. Although, pursuant to the contract between Microtek and 3M, we applied Minnesota law on the indemnification issue, we are not so bound by Minnesota law on the issue of the reasonableness of the attorneys' fees awarded by the chancellor to 3M. Regardless of the substantive law to be applied, Mississippi courts will apply their own procedural law. Ford v. State Farm Ins. Co., 625 So.2d 792, 793 (Miss. 1993). However, few laws are classified as procedural. In addition to the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rules of Evidence, we have only found the definition of procedural to include statutes of limitations, awards of attorney's fees and awards of prejudgment interest. Sentinel Indus. Contracting Corp. v. Kimmins Indus. Serv. Corp., 743 So.2d 954, 960 (Miss.1999) (finding awards of attorney's fees and prejudgment interest procedural); Ford, 625 So.2d at 793-794 (finding statutes of limitations procedural). Zurich, 920 So.2d at 433. Thus, finding this issue to be procedural, we will apply Mississippi law in determining the issue of the reasonableness of the amount of attorneys fees assessed against Microtek in favor of 3M. In this state, we review the issue of the reasonableness of the trial court's award of attorneys fees applying an abuse of discretion standard. This Court will not disturb the finding of the trial court on such an issue unless it is manifestly wrong or exhibits a manifest abuse of discretion. Mabus v. Mabus, 910 So.2d 486, 488 (Miss.2005) (citing Mauck v. Columbus Hotel Co., 741 So.2d 259, 269 (Miss.1999); Bredemeier v. Jackson, 689 So.2d 770, 778 (Miss.1997)). In this context, the word manifest has been defined to mean unmistakable, clear, plain, or indisputable. Mosley v. Mosley, 784 So.2d 901, 904 (Miss.2001) (citing Black's Law Dictionary 963 (6th ed.1990)); Turpin v. Turpin, 699 So.2d 560, 564 (Miss.1997) (quoting Magee v. Magee, 661 So.2d 1117, 1122 (Miss.1995)). ¶ 25. Microtek urges this Court to consider Rule 1.5(a) of the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct. The factors of Rule 1.5(a) are also known as the McKee factors. McKee v. McKee, 418 So.2d 764, 767 (Miss.1982). Rule 1.5(a) states: A lawyer's fee shall be reasonable. The factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following: (1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal services properly; (2) the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; (3) the fee customarily charged in the location for similar legal services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances; (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent. Miss. R. Prof'l Conduct 1.5(a). In Bell-South v. Board of Supervisors, 912 So.2d 436 (Miss.2005), we stated that the trial judge could not make a blanket endorsement of attorneys fees. Id. at 447. On the other hand, we will not hesitate to affirm the chancellor's award of attorneys' fees, and its amount, when based on substantial credible evidence. Mabus, 910 So.2d at 492. ¶ 26. Microtek asks this Court to reverse the chancellor's grant of attorneys' fees because it believes that the amount is unreasonable. Further, Microtek believes that the chancellor made a blanket endorsement regarding the amount of attorneys fees requested. We disagree. ¶ 27. The chancellor applied Minnesota law in his grant of summary judgment, and the chancellor likewise applied Minnesota law in considering the award of attorneys' fees. The chancellor stated in his order: In determining the size of an attorney's fee, this Court must consider the time and effort required, novelty or difficulty of the issues, skill and standing of the attorney, value of the interest involved, results secured at trial, loss of opportunity for other employment, taxed party's ability to pay, customary charges for similar services, and certainty of payment. Jadwin v. Kasal, 318 N.W.2d 844 (Minn.1982). Microtek argues that Mississippi law should apply to procedural issues, such as attorneys' fees, and we agree. However, the factors relied upon by the chancellor, in citing Jadwin, a Minnesota case, are virtually identical to the McKee factors. Thus, the chancellor committed no error in relying upon the above enumerated factors in arriving at the appropriate amount of attorneys' fees to be assessed against Microtek and in favor of 3M. ¶ 28. Microtek claims that 3M produced no evidence to support the reasonableness of the attorney's fees. However, the chancellor found otherwise in his order: Offered in support of the claim for attorneys' fees is the affidavit of Debra Dunne, the Pennsylvania attorney who successfully defended 3M. The affidavit includes as an Exhibit an itemization of the fees and expenses. The Exhibit is approximately an inch thick and is Exhibit 10 to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment.    Ms. Dunne's time and effort are included as an exhibit. Ms. Dunne's Motion for Summary Judgment and the exhibits in this case show the novelty and difficulty of the issues. The success of Ms. Dunne obviously shows her skill and standing as an attorney. Ms. Chapley's alleged serious injuries show the value of the interest involved. Ms. Dunne was successful and as shown by the time spent on the case, she lost the opportunity for other employment. Her hourly rate is $240.00 per hour which is reasonable. She certainly would have been and was paid by 3M. 3M clearly provided evidence to the Chancery Court on the issue of the appropriate amount of attorneys fees to be awarded. It is thus obvious that, as opposed to making a blanket endorsement of any proposal as to the amount of attorneys fees to be awarded, the chancellor painstakingly addressed the relevant factors. Accordingly, for these reasons, we find the amount of the chancellor's award of attorneys fees was based on substantial evidence and this action by the chancellor was not a manifest abuse of discretion. We find this issue to be without merit.