Opinion ID: 1443903
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prevailing party determination with respect to Estrella's claims

Text: Because we hold that Jaso was the prevailing party under Rule 68, we need not address the alternative arguments presented regarding whether Jaso was the prevailing party with respect to claims brought by James McCarthy. We do address, however, Jaso's arguments that the trial court erred in failing to find that he was the prevailing party against Estrella McCarthy, to whom the jury awarded no damages. McCarthy argues that Jaso never affirmatively requested attorney's fees from Estrella or argued that he was the prevailing party vis-a-vis her claim; McCarthy asserts that Jaso merely opposed McCarthy's motion for fees on this ground. Because Jaso never requested fees from Estrella, McCarthy argues, the issue is not before this court. Jaso's attorney's fees motion and supporting memorandum were non-specific in requesting fees against the plaintiffs. The memorandum refers to the offer of judgment, which was extended only to James McCarthy. However, in opposing McCarthy's motion for fees, Jaso argued that he had completely defeated Estrella's claim and was therefore entitled to fees as the prevailing party with respect to her claim. This should have clarified whatever ambiguity may have existed for the superior court as to the scope of Jaso's motion for fees. Although the trial court awarded fees to the plaintiffs in its January 11, 1995 order, the January 13 memorandum opinion does not explicitly address Estrella's claim and concludes that Plaintiff James A. McCarthy is ... `the prevailing party' in this litigation. In his statement of points on appeal, Jaso appealed the superior court's failure to find him the prevailing party with regard to Estrella. Therefore, this issue is properly before us. Having defeated Estrella's damages claim, Jaso must be considered the prevailing party with respect to her claim. On remand the superior court must consider this when it calculates Jaso's attorney's fees award.