Opinion ID: 874292
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: This Court awards attorney fees and costs to Duro-Bilt and Bart and Alane McKnight on appeal.

Text: This Court grants Duro-Bilt's request for costs and attorney fees under I.C. § 12-120(3). Attorney fees are to be awarded under I.C. § 12-120(3) to the prevailing party in an action arising out of a commercial transaction. In this case, the Vacation Agreement was integral to Goodman Oil's lawsuit against Duro-Bilt; without the Agreement, the lawsuit would not have been brought. Brower v. E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Co., 117 Idaho 780, 784, 792 P.2d 345, 349 (1990) (stating that attorney fees are appropriate under I.C. § 12-120(3) when the commercial transaction is integral to the claim.) The Agreement's central nature to the claim is also apparent by the fact that the same action by Duro-Bilt brought about both the tort and breach of contract claims. Each arose out of Duro-Bilt's objection to the vacation of First Avenue South. Accordingly, costs and attorney fees are to be awarded to Duro-Bilt, the prevailing party. Goodman Oil argues that it is entitled to attorney fees under I.C. 12-120(3) if it prevails on appeal. Since Goodman Oil has not prevailed, no fees are awarded.