Court Opinion

ID: 9523680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 02:45:37.438422+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:07:16.289089
License: Public Domain

LEVINE, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent from that part of the opinion which affirms the award of costs to Delaney. NDCC § 28-26-06 directs the clerk to tax necessary disbursements in favor of the prevailing party. In this case there was no single “prevailing party” against whom the clerk could tax disbursements. Delaney prevailed on Courchene’s claim for damages, and Courchene prevailed on his *816claim for wages. See Liebelt v. Saby, 279 N.W.2d 881, 888 (N.D.1979). Thus, costs may not be mandatorily taxed in this case.
Section 28-26-10, NDCC, gives a court discretion to allow costs for or against either party. An abuse of discretion is defined as an unreasonble, arbitrary, or unconscionable attitude on the part of the trial court. Moser v. Wilhelm, 300 N.W.2d 840, 847 (N.D.1981). It is unconscionable and contrary to sound public policy to tax disbursements against an employee who was forced to litigate the fact of his employment in order to obtain his just wages.
I would reverse the award of costs to Delaney.
MESCHKE, J., concurs.