Opinion ID: 874210
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: We deny Aardema's request for attorney fees under I.A.R. 11.2.

Text: Aardema argues that it is entitled to attorney fees under I.A.R. 11.2. Aardema argues that both Talbot v. Ames Construction, 127 Idaho 648, 904 P.2d 560 (1995), and Stolle v. Bennett, 144 Idaho 44, 156 P.3d 545 (2007), support allowing attorney fees in worker's compensation cases. Particularly, Aardema points to the Court's finding in Stolle that [t]his Court has awarded attorney's fees when the appealing party is simply asking the Court to reweigh the evidence and credibility determinations. 144 Idaho at 51, 156 P.3d at 552. The Court in Talbot relied on two factors: first, the admission during oral argument that substantial and competent evidence existed for the Commission's finding. 127 Idaho at 653, 904 P.2d at 565. Second, the Court found that [Talbot] presented no legal arguments as a basis for his appeal. . . . Stolle, 144 Idaho at 51, 156 P.3d at 552 (describing the findings in Talbot ). In Stolle, these factors were combined with a low dollar amount at issue and extensive argument regarding attorney fees. Id. Idaho Appellate Rule 11.2 serves to sanction attorneys who violate the certification that they made when signing a notice of appeal and warrants attorney fees where an appeal was so far outside the realm of reasonability that it warrants a sanction on the losing attorney. Fowble v. Snoline Exp., Inc., 146 Idaho 70, 77, 190 P.3d 889, 896 (2008). This Court has also noted that even where claims were dubious, sanctions under Rule 11.1 would not be awarded where the Court could not conclude that the appeal was interposed for an improper purpose. Bradford v. Roche Moving & Storage, Inc., 147 Idaho 733, 737, 215 P.3d 453, 457 (2009). We note that this appeal has been decided on the briefs and that all briefing submitted on Funes' behalf was prepared by an attorney who died during the pendency of this appeal. The purposes underlying the sanctions of I.A.R. 11.2 would not be advanced by imposing a sanction against the deceased. In view of Funes' limited education and illiteracy, we are unable to determine that he bears responsibility for the legal arguments advanced on his behalf. For these reasons, we decline to award attorney fees under I.A.R. 11.2.