Opinion ID: 2335712
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Are the Williamses or AFI entitled to attorney fees under the frivolous lien statute?

Text: ¶ 35 Both AFI and the Williamses claim they are entitled to attorney fees under RCW 60.04.081(4), which provides: If, following a hearing on the matter, the court determines that the lien is frivolous and made without reasonable cause, or clearly excessive, the court shall issue an order ... awarding costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the applicant to be paid by the lien claimant. If the court determines that the lien is not frivolous and was made with reasonable cause, and is not clearly excessive, the court shall issue an order so stating and awarding costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the lien claimant to be paid by the applicant. ¶ 36 This statute directs the superior court to award attorney fees to the party that prevails in a frivolous lien proceeding on the issue of whether the lien is frivolous or excessive. Attorney fees have also been awarded for appellate proceedings under this provision. Intermountain, 115 Wash.App. at 395-96, 62 P.3d 548; W.R.P., 85 Wash.App. at 753, 934 P.2d 722. However, in reviewing a decision, an appellate court may take action as required by the merits of the case and the interests of justice. RAP 12.2. In this unique instance, given that both parties reasonably interpreted the ambiguous acknowledgment requirement in RCW 60.04.091(2), we think it would be inequitable for one party alone to bear the costly burden of this litigation. In the interest of justice, we do not award attorney fees to either party for the trial or appellate proceedings.