Court Opinion

ID: 9795426
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 03:28:48.969797+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:29:56.694617
License: Public Domain

Justice EISMANN,
specially concurring.
I concur in the majority opinion, but write only to discuss further the “significant new item of damage” mentioned in Idaho Code § 12-120(4). The damages recovered by the plaintiff are important under that statute only insofar as they exceed any prelitigation tender by the defense. Under that statute, at least sixty days before filing a lawsuit, the plaintiff seeking to recover attorney fees in a personal injury action must submit a written claim for damages to the defense (defendant’s insurer or the defendant if the insurer is unknown). If the defense tenders a sum to settle the claim, and the plaintiff rejects such settlement and files a lawsuit, the plaintiff must recover damages in an amount that is approximately 11% more than the tender in order to be awarded attorney fees.3 A new item of damage (one not included in the written claim) is significant only if it causes the plaintiffs damages to exceed the tender in an amount sufficient to qualify for an award of attorney fees. If the defense did not make a prelitigation tender and the plaintiff recovers any damages included in the written claim, no new item of damage offered at trial would be significant under Idaho Code § 12-120(4). The plaintiff would be entitled to an award of attorney fees under the statute regardless of the new item of damage.

. The statute provides, "[N]o attorney’s fees shall be allowed to the plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant tendered to the plaintiff, prior to the commencement of the action, an amount at least equal to ninety percent (90%) of the amount awarded to the plaintiff.” For the tender to be less than 90% of the damages, the damages must exceed the tender by approximately 11.12%.