Opinion ID: 2631227
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Smith's claim for attorney fees

Text: We now review whether the district court correctly denied Smith's request for attorney fees. Smith's application for fees was premised on NRS 17.115 and NRCP 68, which allow an award of attorney fees and costs when a party fails to recover more than a tendered offer of judgment. The focus of Smith's argument is not that the district court failed to consider his request under the Beattie factors, but that it reached the wrong conclusion under those factors. Claims for attorney fees under NRS 17.115 and NRCP 68 are fact intensive. Thus, we will not disturb such awards in the absence of an abuse of discretion. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire v. Mercer, 111 Nev. 318, 324, 890 P.2d 785, 789 (1995) ( citing Schouweiler v. Yancey Co., 101 Nev. 827, 833, 712 P.2d 786, 790 (1985)). In exercising its discretion under NRCP 68, the district court must carefully evaluate the following factors: (1) whether the plaintiff's claim was brought in good faith; (2) whether the defendant's offer of judgment was reasonable and in good faith in both its timing and amount; (3) whether the plaintiff's decision to reject the offer and proceed to trial was grossly unreasonable or in bad faith; and (4) whether the fees sought by the offeror are reasonable and justified in amount. Beattie v. Thomas, 99 Nev. 579, 588-89, 668 P.2d 268, 274 (1983). Although explicit findings with respect to these factors are preferred, the district court's failure to make explicit findings is not a per se abuse of discretion. See Schwartz v. Estate of Greenspun, 110 Nev. 1042, 1049, 881 P.2d 638, 642 (1994). If the record clearly reflects that the district court properly considered the Beattie factors, we will defer to its discretion. Id. While the district court did not explicitly address each factor separately in its order, the parties do not dispute that the district court evaluated the request for attorney fees under the proper factors. The evaluation is reflected throughout the record on appeal, including the parties' moving papers and the district court's explanation of its order, to wit: [It could not] find that the plaintiff's Complaint against John L. Smith for the catalog ad was brought either in bad faith or had no merit. In fact, plaintiff could not determine John Smith's role in the advertisement for this book until after considerable discovery had taken place. Therefore, the Court declines to award John Smith any attorney fees in this action. Because it considered each of the Beattie factors, we cannot conclude that the district court's refusal to award attorney fees to Smith was an abuse of discretion. [3]