Opinion ID: 2355739
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Fees and Costs Associated with Resolving the Attorney Fee Issue

Text: Lastly, Anderson argues that the water court erred in granting Sebesta and Pursell costs and attorney fees for resolving the fee and cost issue stemming from the Motion to Enforce. Costs and attorney fees are only appropriate in a motion for attorney fees under section 13-17-102 if the trial court finds that the defense to the motion lacked substantial justification. Foxley v. Foxley, 939 P.2d 455, 460 (Colo.App.1996); Parker v. Davis, 888 P.2d 324, 327 (Colo.App.1994) (citations omitted). Sebesta and Pursell argue that if a party succeeds on its underlying claim for attorney fees, it should get costs and attorney fees associated with pursuing that award. The cases that they cite for this proposition, however, do not deal with the specific situation that we are faced with here under section 13-17-102. See In re Marriage of Eggert, 53 P.3d 794, 797 (Colo.App.2002); [8] Schmidt Constr. Co. v. Becker-Johnson Corp., 817 P.2d 625, 627-28 (Colo.App.1991); Mau, 638 P.2d at 781. Accordingly, we see no reason to overturn the court of appeals' precedent in Foxley and Parker and we refuse to allow an award of costs and attorney fees absent a finding that a defense to a motion for costs and attorney fees is frivolous. Sebesta and Pursell assert that portions of Anderson's challenge to their motion for attorney fees were frivolous because he continued to challenge the water court's denial of the Motion to Enforce. That denial, however, was the underlying reason for the fee issue and references to it were relevant and, therefore, not frivolous. Therefore, Sebesta and Pursell are not entitled to the costs and attorney fees that they incurred in pursuit of the fee and costs issue related to the Motion to Enforce. Sebesta and Pursell also ask for the attorney fees that they have incurred in defending this appeal. Because we find that Anderson's defenses to the successful portions of Sebesta and Pursell's motion were not frivolous, Sebesta and Pursell are not entitled to these attorney fees.