Opinion ID: 884211
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Whether the District Court erred in denying Youderian's request for attorney fees.

Text: Youderian contends that the District Court abused its discretion in denying Youderian's request for attorney fees on the basis of this Court's decision in Foy v. Anderson (1978), 176 Mont. 507, 580 P.2d 114, wherein this Court affirmed the trial court's award of attorney fees to a third party defendant who was forced to secure the services of an attorney and incur expenses through no fault of her own. Youderian asserts that a district court has general equity power to make an injured party whole and that an award of attorney fees is encompassed within that power. The longstanding rule in Montana is that absent statutory or contractual authority, attorney fees will not be awarded. Tanner v. Dream Island, Inc. (1996), 275 Mont. 414, 429, 913 P.2d 641, 650 (citations omitted). In certain instances in which bad faith or malicious behavior are involved, an equitable award of attorney fees has been upheld. Tanner, 913 P.2d at 650. However, this equitable consideration is invoked infrequently and only where the prevailing party has been required to defend against an action, not when the prevailing party instituted the action. Tanner, 913 P.2d at 651; Goodover v. Lindey's Inc. (1992), 255 Mont. 430, 447, 843 P.2d 765, 775. The case before us presents neither a statutory nor a contractual basis for awarding attorney fees; nor does it fall within one of the narrow exceptions to the general rule regarding attorney fees. Youderian was not forced to defend frivolous litigation through no fault of its own. On the contrary, Youderian obtained an attorney to initiate legal action. Moreover, Youderian is not necessarily the prevailing party. Although Youderian prevailed on its claim for the road improvements, the Halls prevailed on the remainder of the claims. Therefore, we hold that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Youderian's request for attorney fees. Affirmed. TURNAGE, C.J., and LEAPHART, GRAY and REGNIER, JJ., concur.