Court Opinion

ID: 9550504
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:36:11.864057+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:40.083592
License: Public Domain

DENECKE, C. J.,
specially concurring.
I concur in the decision of the majority that the personal representative is entitled to attorney fees for legal services rendered in the appeal. I specially concur to further distinguish Adair v. McAtee, 236 Or 391, 385 P2d 621, 388 P2d 748 (1964), and the many cases following Adair.
The reasoning of the parties opposing the award of attorney fees is that Adair v. McAtee, supra, (236 Or 391), holds that attorney fees cannot be awarded on appeal unless the statute or contract providing for the allowance of attorney fees expressly provides for fees on appeal. ORS 116.183(2) does not expressly provide for attorney fees on appeal; therefore, no fees may be awarded. In my opinion that reasoning is incorrect.
In Adair v. McAtee, supra, (236 Or 391), and in all its predecessors and successors, the issue was whether the prevailing party was entitled to a judgment for *474attorney fees for services rendered on appeal against the opposing party. In answering that question we start with the proposition "that in the absence of a contractual or statutory provision a litigant is not entitled to attorney fees in addition to the ordinary costs.” Brookshire v. Johnson, 274 Or 19, 21, 544 P2d 164 (1976). Adair went on to hold that the statutory or contractual provision providing for attorney fees must be explicit if it were to properly provide for attorney fees on appeal.
In the present case the prevailing party is not attempting to recover fees from the opposing party. The personal representative is in effect attempting to be reimbursed for fees expended on behalf of his client. There is no policy reason why the statute allowing attorney fees to personal representatives should be strictly construed. The equities all favor the reimbursement of the personal representatives.