Opinion ID: 1865218
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 25

Heading: Costs awarded under the Minnesota Securities Act.

Text: The trial court awarded Specialized Tours interest of $49,558.22, costs of $2,555.00, and attorney fees of $76,476.12 [19]  or a total of $128,589.34. In challenging those awards, appellant contends that the trial court's interpretation of Minn.Stat. § 80A.23, subd. 2, resulted in unconscionable and unreasonable awards when there existed no proof or finding of intent to deceive, willful indifference, or bad faith on his part. Whatever appeal appellant's equitable argument may contain, it is dashed by the command of the statute which leaves no room for court discretion. The statute states damages under the Minnesota Securities Act shall include actual damages sustained plus interest from the date of    sale, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Minn.Stat. § 80A.23, subd. 2 (1982). Thus, the mandate allowing recovery of those items is clear. [20] The question is whether respondent is entitled to recover those charges as found by the trial court, when on this appeal most of the alleged Minnesota Securities Act damages were disallowed. We believe that respondent is not.