Opinion ID: 2583020
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: certiorari-related counsel fee

Text: ¶ 19 A certiorari-related counsel fee may be granted in cases where there is statutory authority to award a fee for legal services rendered in the trial of a cause. [25] Both the wife and Law Firm claim a certiorari-related counsel fee for services in this court and costs. ¶ 20 No trial-related counsel fee was awarded to Law Firm as the prevailing party at nisi prius. Nor does Law Firm inform us of any authority in support of its certiorari-related counsel-fee quest. Where, as here, no statutory authority is shown to grant an attorney's fee at the trial level, additional fees will not be assessed for legal services rendered in an appellate court. The wife is not entitled to certiorari-related counsel fee and costs. She is neither the successful litigant on certiorari nor may she stand here in the capacity of a divorcing wife vis-a-vis the lawyer. [26] ¶ 21 We hold that each litigant, qua client, is responsible for compensating his own lawyer.