Opinion ID: 1372315
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: entitlement to attorneys' fees

Text: [12] Appellants have requested an award of attorneys' fees. They concede that fees will not be awarded in the absence of a contract, statute or recognized ground of equity. Seattle School Dist. 1 v. State, 90 Wn.2d 476, 540, 585 P.2d 71 (1978). They assert, however, that this court has recognized several exceptions to the general rule. First, they contend a prevailing party may recover attorneys' fees under the common fund theory. Their claim fails, however, for lack of any identifiable common fund preserved by the litigation. Second, appellants assert a claim for attorneys' fees based upon this court's alleged equitable and supervisory powers. We are not informed why or under what applicable facts we should exercise these alleged powers to grant attorneys' fees. Lacking this essential information, we will not grant the request. Third, appellants argue that a prevailing party is entitled to an award of attorneys' fees if constitutional principles are successfully defended. However, we are not told what constitutional principles have been successfully defended, what patently unconstitutional administrative and/or legislative actions were involved, or what expenditure of public funds has been successfully challenged thereunder. Consequently, we are aware of no authority to award attorneys' fees under the asserted theory. See PUD 1 v. Kottsick, 86 Wn.2d 388, 391, 545 P.2d 1 (1976); Weiss v. Bruno, 83 Wn.2d 911, 914, 523 P.2d 915 (1974). Fourth, it is contended a prevailing party may be awarded attorneys' fees if their action has conferred a substantial benefit on an ascertainable class. However, the record fails to disclose the membership of the asserted class, what benefit it derived, or the extent thereof. Further, the court is not shown to have any identifiable estate or fund under its control upon which attorneys' fees may be imposed. Seattle School Dist. 1 v. State, supra at 541-42. Consequently, we are unable to convert this vague claim into an award of attorneys' fees. Fifth, it is said that a prevailing party is entitled to attorneys' fees if the conduct of the losing party constitutes bad faith or wantonness, citing State ex rel. Macri v. Bremerton, 8 Wn.2d 93, 113-14, 111 P.2d 612 (1941). Macri does not support their claim. Probably the nearest case in point is Hsu Ying Li v. Tang, 87 Wn.2d 796, 797-98, 557 P.2d 342 (1976). However, Hsu 's award of attorneys' fees was only superficially based on proof of constructive fraud (a stronger claim than that made here). The actual award stemmed from the prevailing party's having preserved partnership assets, i.e., an identifiable fund. Thus, even Hsu is not in point. See Seattle School Dist. 1 v. State, supra at 543. Assuming Macri supports appellants' assertion, however, the record is not sufficient to establish wantonness and bad faith on the part of the losing party. Without question the case has been hard fought with considerable legal in-fighting and delay by ASARCO. Nevertheless, we are not prepared to say, without more evidence, that this alone rises to the stature claimed by appellants. If appellants are entitled to recover attorneys' fees under some theory, whether set forth above or otherwise, it is not self-evident. The request for an award of fees is denied.