Opinion ID: 2171909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Attorney's Fees: Breach of Contract

Text: Chapter 38 of the Civil Practices and Remedies Code allows recovery of attorney's fees in breach of contract cases: A person may recover reasonable attorney's fees ... in addition to the amount of a valid claim and costs, if the claim is for... an oral or written contract. [26] To recover fees under this statute, a litigant must do two things: (1) prevail on a breach of contract claim, and (2) recover damages. [27] The second requirement is implied from the statute's language: for a fee recovery to be in addition to the amount of a valid claim, the claimant must recover some amount on that claim. While some damages are necessary to recover fees under this statute, [28] this Court has never said whether nominal damages are enough. But as the Woodlands can recover neither actual nor nominal damages, that question is not before us. Accordingly, the Woodlands' fee award cannot be affirmed based on Chapter 38.