Opinion ID: 1228498
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Attorneys' fees for divorce.

Text: The trial court awarded appellant $800 for her legal fees for this divorce and $977.83 (one half) for her disbursements. Appellant attacks this award as being an abuse of discretion and cites cases in which this court has approved much larger awards. Johnson v. Johnson (1969), 42 Wis. 2d 237, 166 N. W. 2d 230 ($5,250 fees plus $515 disbursements); Williams v. Williams, supra, page 673 ($4,000 fees plus $1,000 costs); Hennen v. Hennen (1972), 53 Wis. 2d 600, 610, 193 N. W. 2d 717 ($2,500 fees which was one half the reasonable fees). The record indicates that one of appellant's lawyers spent  100-plus hours on this case, but no total fee is shown and no hours or fee for the other of appellant's lawyers is shown. This court has held that in order to determine the amount of contribution by a husband to a wife's attorneys' fees, it is first necessary to establish the reasonableness of the total fee. Hennen v. Hennen, supra, page 606. It appears from the record that the trial court made no such determination. This court has also held that the value of attorney's fees or services, as determined by the trial court, is not subject to the usual test of great weight and clear preponderance on appeal. This is because the expertise necessary for such a determination is shared alike by the members of this court with trial courts. Touchett v. E Z Paintr Corp. (1961), 14 Wis. 2d 479, 488, 111 N. W. 2d 419. Also, it has been stated: . . . It is not really the type of issue or question of fact where an adversary presentation is necessary to the presentation of evidence necessary to a determination [as to reasonableness of fees]. And, as pointed out by the plaintiff, the Hennen v. Hennen Case allows the supreme court on review to make an independent determination of the reasonableness of attorneys' fees. . . . Tesch v. Tesch, supra, page 335. We deem this an appropriate case in which to make an independent determination, not of the reasonableness of the appellant's attorneys' fees, but of the reasonableness of the time spent by the appellant's attorneys in relation to the complexity of the case and a fair and reasonable contribution by the respondent. We are of the opinion the trial court abused its discretion in determining such an amount to be $800. O'Connor v. O'Connor (1970), 48 Wis. 2d 535, 541, 180 N. W. 2d 735. The record reveals that this was a contested divorce proceeding, involving five days of trial in which many of  the alleged assets and liabilities of the respondent were challenged, requiring expert testimony, appraisal fees, lengthy investigation and extended trial preparation. The amount of money involved was substantial. The professional skill and experience required was significant. So too, the pecuniary benefit derived by the appellant from the lawyers' services was substantial. See: Hennen v. Hennen, supra . Therefore, based on the record as presented, it is felt that the expenditure of 100-plus hours and $1,900 in disbursements, while high, was not unreasonable. . . . The test as to whether any such contribution can be ordered, and in what amount, is exactly the same as for alimony payments: (1) The need of the wife; and (2) the ability to pay of the husband. . . . Hirth v. Hirth, supra, page 497. After a review of the record, and giving consideration to all the factors, it is our independent judgment that reasonable contribution by the respondent to the appellant's attorneys' fees is $1,500 instead of $800, as ordered by the trial court, and the judgment is so modified.