Court Opinion

ID: 9794220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 03:01:24.686219+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:00.573133
License: Public Domain

RABINOWITZ, Justice,
with whom BURKE, Justice, joins concurring.
Active contends that its exhibit preparation costs are recoverable under Civil Rule 79(b)’s “producing exhibits” provision. I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the expert preparation costs awarded below are not recoverable under this provision. I concur, however, in order to state my view that exhibit preparation costs may be recoverable in certain cases under other language of Civil Rule 79(b).
Civil Rule 79(b) identifies certain categories of costs which are recoverable, including costs associated with “producing exhibits.” However, this enumeration of recoverable costs is not exclusive. Rule 79(b), after listing examples of recoverable costs provides:
In addition to the items allowed as costs by law and in these rules, a party shall be allowed any other expenses necessarily incurred in order to enable a party to secure some right accorded him in the action or proceeding.
(Emphasis added.) Active refers to this provision as the “catch-all” language of Civil Rule 79(b). Active argued that it was not relying on this “catch-all” provision, “but [was] instead relying upon the specific language of the rule dealing with the costs of ‘producing exhibits.’ ”
It should be noted that in certain cases it will be within the trial court’s discretion to allow full exhibit preparation costs under Civil Rule 79(b). These costs will be justified to the extent that the court determines that they were “necessar[y] ... to enable a party to secure some right.” Alaska R.Civ.P. 79(b). For instance, costs incurred in connection with the construction of charts and models might thus be recoverable in a particular case, though such costs would not be compensable under the “producing exhibits” language of Civil Rule 79(b).
The recovery of costs under this proviso of the rule is limited, however, by Civil Rule 83 and Administrative Rule 7. Civil Rule 83 states, “The payment of fees ... for witnesses ... shall be governed by the rules for the administration of the courts.” Administrative Rule 7(c) provides generally that expert witness fees may be recovered at a rate of up to $50.00 per hour.1 We *1368have in the past interpreted these rules as precluding parties from recovering expert preparation costs in most cases.2 Atlantic Richfield Co. v. State, 723 P.2d 1249, 1253 (Alaska 1986); Miller v. Sears, 636 P.2d 1183, 1195 (Alaska 1981). Rather, a prevailing party may recover only for the time spent by an expert witness testifying. Atlantic Richfield, 723 P.2d at 1253.
Furthermore, expert preparation costs not recoverable under Administrative Rule 7(c) may not be recovered under the Civil Rule 79(b) catch-all provision. Miller, 636 P.2d at 1195. It is for this reason that Active expressly denied reliance on this provision before the superior court.

. Administrative Rule 7(c) reads in full:
(c) Expert Witnesses. Recovery of costs for a witness called to testify as an expert is limited to the time when the expert is employed and testifying and shall not exceed $50.00 per hour, except as otherwise provided in these rules. A party may not recover costs for more than three expert witnesses as to the same issue in any given case, unless the judge *1368permits recovery for an additional number of expert witnesses.

. In Miller v. Sears we noted that an award of additional costs might be justified in cases involving bad faith or reprehensible conduct. 636 P.2d 1183, 1195 (Alaska 1981).