Opinion ID: 1643638
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the trial court erred in granting Tullos's motion for failure to state a claim arising under the Litigation Accountability Act.

Text: ¶ 12. Mississippi Code Annotated Section 11-55-5(1) (Rev.2002), commonly referred to as the Litigation Accountability Act, states in pertinent part: in any civil action commenced or appealed in any court of record in this state, the court shall award, as part of its judgment, and in addition to any other costs otherwise assessed, reasonable attorneys fees and costs against any party or attorney if the court, upon motion of any party or on its own motion, finds that an attorney or party brought an action, .... Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-5(1) (Rev.2002) (emphasis added). ¶ 13. This Court has long held that when a statute is not ambiguous, it must be construed according to its plain meaning. Miss. Ins. Guar. Ass'n v. Cole, 954 So.2d 407, 412 (Miss.2007). The Litigation Accountability Act states a claim for attorney's fees and costs in any civil action must be brought upon motion of any party or on its own motion. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-5(1) (Rev.2002). The wording of the statute leaves no room for any alternative interpretation of the procedure to be utilized to seek attorney fees and costs. A plain reading of the statute creates no separate cause of action for a violation of the Litigation Accountability Act. ¶ 14. This Court has set forth its duty to interpret actions by the Legislature, not to enlarge or restrict Legislative intent. Id. at 412 (citing Miss. Dep't of Transp. v. Allred, 928 So.2d 152, 156 (Miss.2006)). Rose would have this Court alter the Litigation Accountability Act beyond the language of the statute to allow for a separate cause of action that is not granted by the language of the statute. This Court declines to do so. This Court has held consistently that its ultimate goal ... is to discern and give effect to ... legislative intent. Cole, 954 So.2d at 412-13 (citing Allred, 928 So.2d at 154); see also Green v. Cleary Water, Sewer & Fire Dist., 910 So.2d 1022, 1027 (Miss.2005); Marx v. Broom, 632 So.2d 1315, 1318 (Miss.1994); City of Natchez v. Sullivan, 612 So.2d 1087, 1089 (Miss.1992). ¶ 15. Whether or not the Litigation Accountability Act creates a separate cause of action has never been ruled on by this Court, thus we have a case of first impression. Previously, only our Court of Appeals has addressed the issue and held that no separate cause of action can lie under the Litigation Accountability Act. Randolph v. Lambert, 926 So.2d 941 (Miss. Ct.App.2006). Rose asks this Court to overrule Randolph. ¶ 16. While this Court has the power as the final arbiter to determine the Legislature's intent, as earlier stated, a plain reading of the Act does not counter the holding in Randolph. Thus we confirm the Court of Appeals' interpretation of the Litigation Accountability Act as not providing a separate independent cause of action. ¶ 17. In Randolph, the Court of Appeals held that the plain meaning of the statute was readily interpreted. Id. The Court of Appeals held that the Act was codified to create an additional avenue for sanctions, not to create an independent cause of action. Id. at 944-45. The Court of Appeals referred to the language in the statute upon motion of any party or on its own motion as an indication of the Legislature's intent that violations under the Act must be brought in motion form; therefore, the Legislature did not create a separate cause of action. Id. at 945 (quoting Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-5(1) (Rev. 2002)). ¶ 18. The Court of Appeals noted additional language from the Act, that the court shall award, as part of its judgment and in addition to any other costs assessed ..., as further indication that any judgment must be part of the original action... not an independent judgment in and of itself. Id. at 945. The Court of Appeals held itself bound by the plain language of the statute, and this Court agreesthe Court of Appeals is bound by the language of the statute, as is this Court. The Court of Appeals properly interpreted the Litigation Accountability Act. ¶ 19. In the alternative, Rose argues that, should this Court deem a separate action does not lie, such a ruling merely affirms Randolph. Rose advances the argument that prior to Randolph, an independent action would have been viable. Therefore, Rose argues that his claim should stand as an independent action because it was filed prior to the Court of Appeals' decision in Randolph, irrespective of this Court's ruling. Randolph, 926 So.2d 941. ¶ 20. Although this Court had not previously interpreted the statute as to whether or not a separate action would lie, neither this Court nor the Court of Appeals in Randolph altered the law. Id. Therefore, whether Rose filed his claim as an independent action under the Litigation Accountability Act, either prior to, or subsequent to, Randolph, the action does not constitute a claim upon which relief may be had. ¶ 21. Additionally, Rose claims that Rule 11 of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure proves that the Litigation Accountability Act creates a cause of action. Rose asserts that, otherwise, the Litigation Accountability Act would be redundant and unnecessary. This Court previously clarified any misplaced suggestion that the Litigation Accountability Act and Rule 11 of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure are redundant. Stevens v. Lake, 615 So.2d 1177, 1184 (Miss.1993). This Court has held that there is no conflict between Rule 11 of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and Mississippi Code Annotated Section 11-55-5 (Rev.2002). Stevens, 615 So.2d at 1184. This Court held that the Act does not conflict with, but merely augments, Rule 11 by stating that the court shall specifically set forth the reasons for awarding attorney fees and costs and enumerates factors which shall be considered by the court. Id. Rose's argument that the Litigation Accountability Act creates a separate cause of action by virtue of the existence of Rule 11 of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure is without merit. Id.