Opinion ID: 2516769
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Attorney Fees for Violation of Immediate Entry Order

Text: [¶ 19] Following the hearing, the district court issued an order permitting the board to enter the Conners' property to operate and maintain the water system. However, the order required the board to give the Conners notice prior to going onto the property. The Conners subsequently filed a motion for an order to show cause regarding an alleged violation of that requirement, and the court held the board in contempt. Neither the Conners' motion nor the hearing transcript was designated, and neither is in the record. The Conners argue they should be entitled to attorney fees pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 1-26-506 and 1-26-508 (Lexis-Nexis 2001) because the board failed to comply with this order. [6] However, the district court made no findings that the board had violated the provisions of § 1-26-508(b) making an award of litigation costs mandatory and expressly declined to award the Conners' fees and costs at this time. In considering the claim for attorney fees, the district court appropriately would be guided by the propositions that the statutory provision should be given a liberal interpretation to effectuate its salutary purposes and a prevailing plaintiff ordinarily should be awarded compensating attorney fees unless special circumstances would render the award unjust. Bueno v. CF & I Steel Corporation, 773 P.2d 937 (Wyo.1989); State ex rel. Scholl v. Anselmi, 640 P.2d 746 (Wyo.1982), appeal dismissed, cert. denied 459 U.S. 805, 103 S.Ct. 28, 74 L.Ed.2d 43 (1982); [ Board of Trustees of Weston County School District No. 1, Weston County v. ] Holso, 584 P.2d 1009 [(Wyo.1978)]; Annotation, Construction and Application of Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976 (Amending 42 USCS [A] § 198842USCAS1988USCA0020LQ), Providing That Court May Allow Prevailing Party, Other Than United States, Reasonable Attorney's Fee In Certain Civil Rights Actions, 43 A.L.R.Fed. 243 (1979). In determining the reasonableness of that award, the district court will be guided by our Wyoming precedents. See, e.g., Delgado v. Delgado, 773 P.2d 446 (Wyo.1989). Town of Upton v. Whisler, 824 P.2d 545, 552 (Wyo.1992). [¶ 20] The Conners presume that, because the board was held in contempt, it should have been ordered to pay their fees and costs under the statute, and they claim the district court was biased. These arguments present only bare assertions without evidentiary or legal support. Further, we have no means to review the district court proceedings and must assume the decision was in accord with the law. Cottonwood Valley Ranch, Inc., 874 P.2d at 899.