Under a common-law doctrine successful litigants love to hate – the “American Rule” – a party to litigation cannot recover its legal fees unless a contract, statute, or court rule expressly authorizes fee-shifting to the...more
As litigators know, the United States follows the so-called “American Rule” when apportioning the costs of litigation. Unless a statute specifically provides otherwise, parties in court are responsible for their own...more
At a time when remote depositions are commonplace, litigators weigh any number of factors when deciding whether a deposition should be conducted in-person or remotely. Does the case turn on the credibility of the witness, and...more
As a cautionary tale, in Accounteks.Net, Inc. v. CKR Law, LLP, and Christian Montes, the New Jersey Appellate Court ruled on May 9, 2023, that, under an exception to the American Rule, a third party can be liable for...more
Last week we saw the Menard court reject the use of an indemnity clause to shift fees in a dispute between contracting parties. This week, a very recent decision from Nevada highlights another creative way to shift fees where...more
The “American Rule” on attorneys’ fees is that each party pays its own lawyers, even if you win. As with almost any rule, there are exceptions. Sometimes there is a statute that requires the losing party to pay the prevailing...more
Update: We previously published the alert below regarding House Bill (“HB”) 698 in the 134th Ohio General Assembly, which proposed numerous changes to Ohio’s eminent domain statutes that would be favorable to property owners,...more
Totta v. CCSB, LLC, C.A. No. 2021-0173-KSJM (Del. Ch. Nov. 3, 2022) - Delaware follows the “American Rule”: each party bears its own legal fees and expenses. However, there are certain exceptions. This includes the...more
Bottom Line, Up-Front - A recent South Carolina federal district court ruling interprets South Carolina law in a new and potentially dangerous way – by allowing for an award of attorney’s fees against a property insurer...more
Let’s assume you own a 93-acre farm in Tioga County. In 1986 your grandfather sold the oil and gas rights to his neighbor, John Mize. In the early 1990’s, Mr. Mize signed an oil and gas lease with XYZ Drilling. Several years...more
Under the so-called “American Rule,” a party that prevails in litigation typically is not entitled to recover the costs, expenses and legal fees it has to expend to secure a judgment in its favor. As such, many business...more
On June 7, 2022, House Bill 698 was introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives. The Bill would amend Ohio’s eminent domain law, Ohio Revised Code Chapter 163, in numerous ways that are favorable to property owners and...more
As mediators, we encounter a lot of reasons why people choose not to settle a matter. One that we hear from time to time is that it is the principle of the matter that is the impediment to negotiation. A party cannot or will...more
In a recent decision, the Washington Court of Appeals established a new equitable exception to the American rule for attorneys’ fees, which generally denies an award of fees and costs to a prevailing party absent a...more
Following up on the question posed in a post from a few years ago: when clients ask whether they can “sue for legal fees,” the courts continue to reiterate that the answer is almost always no; that the American Rule still...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit updated its earlier opinion to remove language ascribing motive to a prolific inventor’s actions before the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO). Hyatt v. Hirshfeld, Case Nos....more
An accurate assessment of damages is critical for case evaluation, and the cost of dispute resolution plays an important role in deciding to pursue claims. Even strong liability cases can fail to make economic sense. That is...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated a district court’s award of attorney’s fees under the prevailing party rule but affirmed the district court’s denial of the US Patent & Trademark Office’s (PTO) request...more
Precedential Federal Circuit Opinions - SEABED GEOSOLUTIONS (US) INC. v. MAGSEIS FF LLC [OPINION] (2020-1237, August 11, 2021) (MOORE, LINN and CHEN) - Moore, Chief Judge. Vacating final written decision of the Patent...more
Under the “American rule,” litigants on each side generally pay their separate legal fees associated with a lawsuit. This is generally so even if one party prevails on the merits of his or her claim or claims. Texas follows...more
HYATT v. HIRSHFELD - Before Moore, Reyna, and Hughes. Appeals from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia....more
One of the first questions asked of me by clients when considering litigation is, “Can I make the other side pay for my attorney’s fees?” In Washington State, the answer to that question is generally no. This is referred to...more
In re Shayne Allan Steen and Tracie Melissa Cole, Case No. 20-50042 (Bankr. N.D. Tex, July 7, 2021) deals with a debtor’s attorneys’ fees incurred in defending the debtor in a non-dischargeability adversary proceeding filed...more
The decision for prospective litigants to bring and defend lawsuits can be difficult to navigate given the uncertainty of costs, especially attorney’s fees. Contrary to popular assumption, in Virginia, the general rule for...more
In an April 30, 2021 opinion, Maryland highest court, the Court of Appeals, largely reversed a decision of the Court of Special Appeals. The Court of Appeals held that: (a) posting a notice under Section 7-113 of Maryland’s...more