Court Opinion

ID: 9787332
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 00:14:53.314384+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:36:54.948531
License: Public Domain

Justice SCHROEDER,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the determination that Idaho Code section 48-608(4) does not mandate an award of attorney fees. The statute says, “the court shall award, in addition to the relief provided in this section, reasonable attorney’s fees to the plaintiff if he prevails.” There is no discretion involved. If a party prevails on the Consumer Protection Act claim, he or she is entitled to an award of attorney fees. If there are other claims upon which the party either does or does not prevail, an apportionment is appropriate, limiting the award to the Consumer Protection Act claim.
The Consumer Protection Act is a strong, remedial act. Limiting one of the key remedial features of the act runs contrary to purposes of the act and contrary to the express language of I.C. section 48-608(4).