Opinion ID: 2781495
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: EquiTrust’s Appeal

Text: EquiTrust argues that the district court erred by not awarding it costs as the prevailing party pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d). Although a district court has the discretion to decline to award costs to a prevailing party, it must explain a denial. See Ass’n of Mex.-Am. Educators v. California, 231 F.3d 572, 591–93 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). The court here did not do so. Thus, we vacate the order denying costs and remand to allow the district court either to award costs or state its reasons for denying them. See Quan v. Computer Scis. Corp., 623 F.3d 870, 889 (9th Cir. 2010), abrogated on other grounds by Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer, 134 S. Ct. 2459, 2467 (2014).