Opinion ID: 2625082
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Costs and attorney fees on appeal.

Text: A successful litigant is generally not entitled to recover attorney fees unless such recovery is provided by statute. Kidwell & Heiser v. Fenley, 96 Idaho 534, 534, 531 P.2d 1179, 1179 (1975). The Interested Parties seek attorney fees and costs on appeal under I.C. § 34-2130, I.C. § 12-121, I.R.C.P 11, I.A.R. 11.1, and I.A.R. 41. I.C. § 34-2130 states: The appellant shall file a bond sufficient to cover the cost of appeal of a primary contest. This statute is not a basis for awarding attorney fees to the Interested Parties. The general rule is that costs do not include attorney fees unless attorney fees are expressly included in the definition of the term costs. See 20 AM.JUR.2D Costs § 1 (1995); 20 C.J.S. Costs § 125 (1990). The legislature's awareness of this rule is demonstrated by its authorization of awards of costs and attorney fees. See, e.g., I.C. §§ 5-321, 6-101(3)(o), 7-610, 9-342, 12-120(5), 16-1620A (all referring to costs and attorney fees). When the legislature has intended that the term costs cover attorney fees, it has so provided. See, e.g., I.C. §§ 18-3302(6), 18-6713(9), 18-7805(a), 25-3405(7), 26-3106(1)(c), 30-3-48(3), 30-3-54(4), 37-1014, 59-1320(4), 67-6626. Therefore, we hold that attorney fees are not appropriately awarded under I.C. § 34-2130. Idaho Code § 12-121 authorizes this Court to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party on appeal, not as a matter of right, but only where the Court is left with the abiding belief that the appeal was brought, pursued or defended frivolously, unreasonably, or without foundation. See Minich v. Gem State Developers, Inc., 99 Idaho 911, 918, 591 P.2d 1078, 1085 (1979). Noble has raised legitimate issues concerning the district judge's interpretation of the election laws. For this reason, we conclude that the appeal was not pursued without foundation and that sanctions under I.R.C.P. 11 and I.A.P. 11.1 would not be appropriate. The requests of the Interested Parties for attorney fees are, accordingly, denied.