Court Opinion

ID: 2808490
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-15 20:56:26.949464+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:08.966070
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

PAUL N. and DEBORAH R. HAGMAN,
husband and wife, and RYAN P. HAGMAN,
as his separate estate,                              No. 71156-3-1

                                                                                 r—3    .- ->..
                            Respondents,             DIVISION ONE

WARREN C. WILLIAMS; JOHN L. SCOTT,
INC.; 10820 EVERGREEN LLC, d/b/a
MICHAEL HAGAN ESCROW; ROBERT T.
MAPLE,

                            Defendants,             UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                and                                 FILED: June 15, 2015

HMC CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, INC.
d/b/a JOHN L. SCOTT SNOHOMISH;
BARBARA A. SHELTON; CHRISTOPHER
GOUGH; JOHN or JANE DOE, designated
broker of JOHN L. SCOTT SNOHOMISH;

                            Appellants.

       Becker, J. —The prevailing party under a contractual fee-shifting
provision is generally entitled to an award of attorney fees only if the underlying
action involves claims "on the contract." Because Barbara Shelton failed to

demonstrate that the Hagmans' tort claims for fraud and negligent
misrepresentation were based on the parties' contract, the trial court did not err in
refusing to award Shelton attorney fees as the prevailing party following a
voluntary dismissal under CR 41. Nor has Shelton demonstrated that the trial
court abused its discretion in denying CR 11 sanctions. We affirm.
No. 71156-3-1/2

                                      FACTS

       For purposes of this appeal, the relevant facts are not disputed. In 2010,

Paul, Deborah, and Ryan Hagman (Hagman) purchased an unimproved parcel of

property in Skagit County from Warren Williams. Barbara Shelton, the managing

real estate broker of HMC Capital Investments, Inc., d/b/a John L. Scott

Snohomish, represented the seller Williams. Her husband, Christopher Gough, a

real estate broker in the same office, represented Hagman. As part of the

transaction, Gough, on behalf of John L. Scott, and Hagman executed a Buyer's

Agency Agreement.

      After the purchase, Hagman learned that he would not be able to obtain a

building permit for the property because it lacked access to an adequate water

supply. On April 25, 2012, Hagman filed this action against the seller, the real

estate brokers, and others associated with the transaction, seeking rescission of

the purchase and sale agreement and damages. Among other things, Hagman

alleged that the defendants

       actually knew (had actual knowledge) or had reason to know that
      the Lot 2 did not have a well to use or an adequate supply of water,
       and intentionally, recklessly, and/or negligently concealed this
       information from Plaintiffs and fraudulently induced the sale.

As to the real estate brokers, HMC, Shelton, and Gough (collectively Shelton),

Hagman's complaint alleged claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and

violation of the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW.
No. 71156-3-1/3

      On November 1, 2012, Shelton moved for summary judgment. On

December 3, 2012, the trial court concluded that genuine issues of material fact

remained and denied the motion. The court also denied Shelton's motion for

attorney fees and CR 11 sanctions.

      On July 30, 2013, Hagman moved for a voluntary dismissal of all his
claims under CR 41(a)(1)(B). He explained that discovery revealed that his

preferred remedy of rescission was not possible. Hagman further asserted that
because there were no contract claims and that all claims against Shelton arose

out of statutory and common-law duties, the dismissal should be without an
award of costs or attorney fees.

       Shelton did not oppose dismissal but maintained that she was the
prevailing party under the attorney fee provision in the Buyer's Agency
Agreement and therefore entitled to an award ofattorney fees and costs.
Shelton also asserted that she was entitled to attorney fees under CR 11

because Hagman was "unable to show that Shelton had done anything wrong."
       Following oral argument on October 18, 2013, the trial court granted
Hagman's motion and dismissed the case without prejudice. The court declined
to award attorney fees but ruled that attorney fees and costs would be addressed
should Hagman "reinstitute any claims." Shelton appeals.
       Hagman initially contends that the trial court's order is not appealable. But
Shelton has not sought review of the order granting voluntary dismissal without
No. 71156-3-1/4

prejudice. Rather, she challenges the trial court's denial of an attorney fee
award. Courts have generally found such decisions appealable as a matter of

right. See Allahvari v. Carter Subaru. 78 Wash. App. 518, 521 n.2, 897 P.2d 413

(1995), abrogated on other grounds by Wachovia SBA Lending. Inc. v. Kraft. 165
Wash. 2d 481, 200 P.3d 683 (2009).

                                      ANALYSIS

       Shelton contends that the trial court erred in failing to award attorney fees

under paragraph 11 of the Buyer's Agency Agreement, which provided:

       ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event of suit concerning this
       Agreement, including claims pursuant to the Washington Consumer
       Protection Act, the prevailing party is entitled to court costs and a
       reasonable attorney's fee.

She argues that because she was the prevailing party under this provision, the

trial court was obligated to award attorney fees. Shelton also contends that the

trial court erred in failing to award attorney fees under CR 11.

       "Whether a party is entitled to attorney fees is an issue of law that we

review de novo." Little v. King. 147 Wash. App. 883, 890, 198 P.3d 525 (2008).

Shelton relies primarily on Singleton v. Frost. 108 Wash. 2d 723, 730, 742 P.2d
1224 (1987), which held that when RCW 4.84.330 applies, "the trial court has the

power to limit an award of attorney's fees to a reasonable sum; however, this

power does not extend to allow the complete denial of attorney's fees where the

contract provides for their award."

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No. 71156-3-1/5

       Shelton concedes that the attorney fee provision in the Buyer's Agency

Agreement authorized an award "to the prevailing party in the event that a lawsuit

was commenced by either party for the enforcement of the contract." (Emphasis

added.) The prevailing party may recover under such a contractual fee-shifting

provision, however, only if the opposing party brings a claim "on the contract":

       that is, only if a party seeks to recover under a specific contractual
       provision. If a party alleges breach of a duty imposed by an
       external source, such as a statute or the common law, the party
       does not bring an action on the contract, even if the duty would not
       exist in the absence of a contractual relationship.

Boguch v. LandoverCorp., 153 Wash. App. 595, 615, 224 P.3d 795 (2009) (citing

Hemenwav v. Miller. 116 Wash. 2d 725, 743, 807 P.2d 863 (1991); Burns v.

McClinton. 135 Wash. App. 285, 310-11, 143 P.3d 630 (2006). review denied. 161
Wash. 2d 1005 (2007); G.W. Constr. Corp. v. ProfI Serv. Indus.. Inc.. 70 Wash. App.
360, 366, 853 P.2d 484 (1993). review denied. 123 Wash. 2d 1002 (1994)).

       An action is "'on the contract'" for purposes of a contractual attorney fees

provision if the action (1) "'arose out of the contract'" and (2) "'if the contract is
central to the dispute.'" Boguch. 153 Wash. App. at 615 (quoting Tradewell Group,

Inc. v. Mavis, 71 Wash. App. 120, 130, 857 P.2d 1053 (1993)). '"If the tortious

breach of a duty, rather than a breach of a contract, gives rise to the cause of
action, the claim is not properly characterized as breach of contract.'" Boguch,
153 Wash. App. at 616 (emphasis added) (quoting Owens v. Harrison. 120 Wn.

App. 909, 915, 86 P.3d 1266 (2004)).

                                               -5-
No. 71156-3-1/6

       In resisting summary judgment, Hagman expressly alleged that Shelton

was liable for breaching common law and statutory duties. On appeal, Shelton

has not disputed or even addressed Hagman's specific arguments regarding

breach of common law and statutory duties. Nor has she made any showing that

Hagman's claims of fraud and negligent misrepresentation were based on her

violation of specific contractual provisions. Under the circumstances, Shelton

has not shown that Hagman's claims were "on the contract" or that the trial court

erred in failing to award contractual attorney fees for defending against

Hagman's tort claims. Cf. Boguch, 153 Wash. App. at 619 (because realtor's

common law and statutory duty to exercise reasonable care exists regardless of

any contractual provision, seller's negligence claims are not "on the contract").

Consequently, Frost does not apply to the facts here.

       Shelton also contends that the trial court erred in refusing to award

attorney fees for Hagman's violation of CR 11. CR 11 requires that a party's

pleadings, motions, or legal memoranda be grounded in fact, warranted by

existing law, and not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or

to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation. CR

11(a); see, e^ Blair v. GIM Corp., 88 Wash. App. 475, 482-83, 945 P.2d 1149

(1997). Because CR 11 sanctions have a potential chilling effect, the trial court

should impose sanctions only when it is patently clear that a claim has absolutely
no chance of success; the fact that a complaint does not prevail on its merits is
No. 71156-3-1/7

not enough. Skimming v. Boxer. 119 Wash. App. 748, 755, 82 P.3d 707, review

denied, 152 Wash. 2d 1016 (2004). We review the trial court's decision to deny CR
11 sanctions for an abuse of discretion. Skimming. 119 Wash. App. at 754.

       Shelton alleges that Hagman's lawsuit was not well grounded in fact or

warranted by existing law. But Shelton does not address the trial court's denial

of her summary judgment motion and motion for CR 11 sanctions. Rather, she

relies solely on conclusory allegations that she was contractually and statutorily

immune from any liability whatsoever. Because Shelton has not supported the

alleged error with any meaningful legal argument, references to the arguments

before the trial court, or citation to relevant authority, she has failed to

demonstrate that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to impose CR 11

sanctions. Cf. Saunders v. Lloyd's of London, 113 Wash. 2d 330, 345, 779 P.2d
249 (1989) (appellate court will decline to consider issues unsupported by cogent

legal argument and citation to relevant authority).

       Hagman requests attorney fees for responding to a frivolous appeal. See

RAP 18.9. An appeal is frivolous "ifthe appellate court is convinced that the

appeal presents no debatable issues upon which reasonable minds could differ

and is so lacking in merit that there is no possibility of reversal." In re Marriage of

Foley, 84 Wash. App. 839, 847, 930 P.2d 929 (1997). We resolve any doubts as to

whether an appeal is frivolous in the appellant's favor. Granville Condo.

                                               -7-
No. 71156-3-1/8

Homeowners Ass'n v. Kuehner, 177 Wash. App. 543, 558, 312 P.3d 702 (2013).

Applying this standard, we deny Hagman's request.

      Affirmed.

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WE CONCUR:

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