Opinion ID: 2509319
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Mother's Motion For An Attorney's Fee Should Be Retransferred To The COCA Division Before Which The Case Stood For Disposition Of Appeal The Only Appellate Tribunal With Cognizance To Decide Her Timely-filed Counsel-Fee Quest

Text: ¶ 17 If I were writing for the court I would retransfer Mother's counsel-fee quest for disposition by COCA. Mother's plea should be deemed timely for COCA's consideration because it is addressed to COCA and was filed within 20 days of the opinion's filing. [26] The transfer order would revest COCA with jurisdiction over the motion. I would accordingly direct that, before proceeding to consider the fee quest, COCA refer the controversy to the trial judge, to sit as a special master, [27] to hold a hearing on the issue whether Mother is entitled by the terms of § 112(D)(2) to a counsel-fee award and, if that query be answered in the affirmative, to determine the amount to be allowed for services rendered in the appellate court. At the conclusion of the proceeding the special master should be directed to prepare a report with findings of fact, conclusions of law and a recommended disposition that would be subject to COCA's review by a de novo standard. [28] B.