Opinion ID: 1197904
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: district court's award of attorney fees

Text: In its supplemental judgment for costs entered in May 1994 (which includes a Rule 54(b) certificate), the district court ruled that Foster's claims against Manchester were brought and pursued without foundation and unreasonably, and awarded $10,500 in attorney fees. The district court declined to award any attorney fees in favor of Torrey Enterprises, Inc. Foster contests the award in favor of Manchester, arguing that her claims against Manchester had merit. The district court awarded fees based on I.R.C.P. 54(e)(1) and I.C. § 12-121. Under those provisions, a court may award reasonable attorney fees only when the court finds the case was brought, pursued or defended frivolously, unreasonably or without foundation; ... I.R.C.P. 54(e)(1). The determination to award or not award attorney fees is committed to the discretion of the trial court. Soria v. Sierra Pacific Airlines, Inc., 111 Idaho 594, 615, 726 P.2d 706, 727 (1986). The burden is on the person disputing the award to show an abuse of discretion. Anderson v. Ethington, 103 Idaho 658, 660, 651 P.2d 923, 925 (1982). In its supplemental judgment, the district court ruled that Foster named Manchester as a defendant without any foundation in fact: The court's review of the entire proceedings leads to the conclusion that Manchester, who undeniably is financially well off, was named as a party to the lawsuit and accused of wrongful termination, breach of contract, racial discrimination and sexual harassment, not because Foster had information suggesting that she had legally viable claims against him, but in the hope that something brought out in discovery would develop such a claim. This is a clear case of bringing a lawsuit without any foundation in fact .... The court concludes that Foster's claims against Manchester were brought and thereafter pursued without foundation and unreasonably. (emphasis added). The district court's conclusion of lack of factual foundation is supported by the following language from the December 1993 partial summary judgment: The evidence is undisputed that Manchester did not commit any wrongful act of sexual or racial harassment. Likewise, any act of retaliation by refusing to promote Foster or to raise her pay occurred before he became an officer and director of Shore Lodge on March 2, 1990. Foster has agreed that all claims against Manchester individually for sexual or racial harassment or for retaliation by refusing to promote or to grant a pay raise may be dismissed.       Foster has conceded that she is not entitled to recover damages under 42 USC § 2000e against Edwards and Manchester individually under the existing state of the law.... Although the question of individual liability of employees under Title VII may have been closer than Foster's counsel conceded to the district court, the court undoubtedly considered the foregoing concessions in determining the reasonableness of Foster's case against Manchester. Moreover, we note that Manchester prevailed on a motion for summary judgment, which we have affirmed. We also recognize the district court's superior position to detect whether a litigant is pursuing claims against a defendant unreasonably. In fixing the amount of the fee award, the district court addressed the factors outlined in I.R.C.P. 54(e)(3) and awarded $10,500, whereas Respondents had sought approximately $25,000 in attorney fees on behalf of Manchester and Torrey Enterprises. On this record, Foster has not persuaded us that the district court abused its discretion. The award of attorney fees in favor of Manchester is affirmed.