Court Opinion

ID: 9549337
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:16:35.060872+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:20:09.981491
License: Public Domain

Roe, C.J.
(dissenting in part)—I dissent from that portion of the majority's opinion which would award attorney's fees to Mr. Mellor. Attorney's fees may be recovered only when authorized by a private agreement of the parties, a statute or a recognized ground of equity. Pennsylvania Life *386Ins. Co. v. Department of Empl. Sec., 97 Wn.2d 412, 413, 645 P.2d 693 (1982). The majority states RCW 64.04.030 "evidences a legislative intent to include attorney's fees as damages when an action for breach is brought in good faith by the covenantee against the covenantor." No authority is cited for that assumption. The pertinent portion of the statute reads:
Every deed in substance in the above form, when otherwise duly executed, shall be deemed and held a conveyance in fee simple to the grantee, his heirs and assigns, with covenants on the part of the grantor: ... (3) that he warrants to the grantee, his heirs and assigns, the quiet and peaceable possession of such premises, and will defend the title thereto against all persons who may lawfully claim the same, and such covenants shall be obligatory upon any grantor, his heirs and personal representatives, as fully and with like effect as if written at full length in such deed.
(Italics mine.) Foley v. Smith, 14 Wn. App. 285, 296, 539 P.2d 874 (1975) held that this statute allows grantees to recover attorney's fees expended in good faith to defend their title in an action in which the grantor was joined and defended, albeit unsuccessfully. Here, the grantor was not tendered the defense or asked to defend a lawsuit. The grantee settled with the third person and then sought recovery of the settlement sum, plus his own attorney's fees. Under the statute, the grantor should have been given an opportunity to settle or to defend. A parallel situation arises in other such cases, but the covenantor must be given the opportunity to defend before attorney's fees are collectable. Here, the majority properly approves the award of the damages suffered by the covenantee in a dispute with a third person. This then becomes an obligation owed by the covenantor and is subject to the same rules as any other collectable claim as to attorney's fees.
In similar cases, other jurisdictions have held that attorney's fees are not recoverable. See Forrer v. Sather, 595 P.2d 1306 (Utah 1979); and Skipper v. McMillan, 349 So. 2d 808 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1977).
*387Additionally, it should be noted Mellor did not comply with RAP 18.1(c), which requires the party requesting attorney's fees to file an affidavit. Ordinarily, the court will impose sanctions where there has been noncompliance. RAP 1.2(b).
Accordingly, I would deny the award of attorney's fees.
Reconsideration denied May 17, 1983.
Review granted by Supreme Court July 19, 1983.