Opinion ID: 2135333
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: did the trial court abuse its discretion in awarding merle attorney's fees?

Text: An award of attorney's fees is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Clarke v. Clarke, 478 N.W.2d 834 (S.D.1991); Kanta, supra . The factors that a trial court should consider in awarding attorney's fees are the parties' relative worth, income, liquidity, and whether either party unreasonably increased the time spent on the case. Fox v. Fox, 467 N.W.2d 762, 768 (S.D.1991). The trial court required Karen to pay $8,039 of Merle's attorney's fees and did so based on a finding that Karen unreasonably increased the time spent on the case. The portion of Merle's attorney's fees that Karen was required to pay was the amount of additional fees and costs the trial court found were incurred by Merle because the matter was not tried on the original March 11, 1991, trial date. The trial court concluded that had the trial been held as scheduled commencing March 11, 1991, Merle would not have incurred certain attorney's fees and costs and Karen was responsible for the fact that the trial was not held as originally scheduled. The trial court found that Merle's attorney's fees and costs totalled $17,756.19. Of that amount $6,717.47 was incurred prior to March 14, 1991 and it could be anticipated that had the matter been tried commencing March 11, 1991, there would have been another $4,000 in attorney's fees and that Merle's attorney spent additional time resulting in an additional $7,039.49 in fees and costs. The trial court further found that Karen was responsible for the $1,000 charged by the attorney appointed to represent Amy and that this amount was to be deducted from her portion of the marital estate. The relevant standard of review was adequately restated in the Matter of Estate of Gibbs, 490 N.W.2d 504, 507 (S.D.1992): [T]his court will not set aside a trial court's findings of fact unless clearly erroneous. A finding is not clearly erroneous unless the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed by the lower court. Additionally, we recognize all conflicts in the evidence must be resolved in favor of the trial court's findings. The credibility of witnesses, the weight to be accorded their testimony, and the weight of the evidence must be determined by the trial court and we accord the trial court some deference based on its observations of the witnesses and the evidence. (citations omitted). The trial court found that Karen had exhibited an obstructional-type of attitude resulting in the necessity of incurring far more attorney's fees, out-of-pocket expenses and costs than should normally be attributed to this particular cause of action. The court further found that such posture by Karen had been willful in nature, although the court did acknowledge that a portion thereof related to Karen's inability to make a decision. The trial court was in a far better position than we to determine the credibility and demeanor of a witness. Additionally, we must resolve all conflicts in the evidence in favor of the trial court's findings. Although we do not argue with the trial court's finding in this regard, this is not the only factor in the determination of awarding attorney's fees. The other factors of relative property worth, relative incomes, and liquidity of the assets, when considered, make the awarding of attorney's fees an abuse of the trial court's discretion. Therefore, the awarding of $7,039.49 is reversed and each party will pay their own attorney's fees and costs of litigation. The $1,000 in fees paid to the child's attorney was paid out of the assets of both of the parties and therefore is no longer an issue.