Opinion ID: 2521363
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: the estate of joyce sweet is entitled to attorney fees on appeal

Text: The estate of Joyce Sweet requests attorney fees on appeal pursuant to Idaho Code § 12-121 and Rule 54(e)(1), I.R.C.P. on the basis that the appeal to this Court is unreasonable and without foundation. The district court denied the request for attorney fees in the appeal from the magistrate court. That discretionary determination, however, does not control this Court's independent determination, on a subsequent appeal, of whether the appeal was brought frivolously or without foundation. Everitt v. Higgins, 122 Idaho 708, 714, 838 P.2d 311, 317 (Ct. App. 1992). The appeal in this case involves numerous, but settled issues of law and dissatisfaction with the factual findings of the magistrate court. Those findings are supported by the evidence. This appeal is unreasonable. Reed v. Reed, 137 Idaho 53, 62, 44 P.3d 1108, 1117 (2002). The estate of Joyce Sweet is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.