Opinion ID: 1251828
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: attorney's fees are proper under the construction trust fund statutes

Text: The Bank contends that Oklahoma law does not allow recovery of attorney's fees unless the pertinent statute or contractual arrangements authorize it. Since the present action, the Bank argues, is essentially one for conversion, attorney's fees may not be recovered. We cannot agree. Inasmuch as the construction trust fund statutes are an integral part of Oklahoma's lien law, we have held that the prevailing party may recover unreasonable counsel fees in an action to enforce such trust. [27] Because in the instant case the trial court must yet make the necessary determination as to whether trust funds were misapplied, the attorney's fee award to the Contractor must be set aside. Assessment of attorney's fees is a proper issue to be considered on remand after retrial. The trial court's decree of restitution is reversed in part and affirmed in part; the causes are remanded with directions: (1) to determine when the Bank became an involuntary trustee and whether, and to what extent, money was misapplied from the trust fund after the Bank's assumption of trustee status, and (2) to resolve any other issues that may arise on remand. BARNES, C.J., LAVENDER and HARGRAVE, JJ., and MEANS, S.J., sitting by assignment for KAUGER, J., who disqualified, concur. SIMMS, V.C.J., concurs in judgment. WILSON, J., concurs in part and dissents in part. HODGES, J., dissents.