Temple v. Bancinsure, Inc.
Filing
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ORDER denying 32 Motion for Attorney Fees and Costs. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on May 31, 2013. (cap)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISCTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EL DORADO DIVISION
DAVID V. TEMPLE d/b/a
PLAINTIFF
SOUTHERN STATE CONSTRUCTION
VS.
CASE NO. 1:10-cv-01059
BANCINSURE, INC.
DEFENDANT
ORDER
Before the Court is the Defendant’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. (ECF No. 32).
On September 25, 2012, the Court granted Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment in this
matter (ECF No. 31), and Defendant now seeks to recover the attorney’s fees and costs accrued
during the action. Plaintiff has filed a response. (ECF No. 33). The matter is ripe for the Court’s
consideration. For the reasons explained below, Defendant’s motion is denied.
Plaintiff’s complaint asserted three claims against Defendant: negligence, breach of
contract, and promissory estoppel. Arkansas Code Annotated §16-22-308 permits a prevailing
party to recover “a reasonable attorneys’ fee” in an action for breach of contract. However, the
decision to award attorneys’ fees, as well as the amount of the award, is within the Court’s
discretion. Little Rock Wastewater Util. v. Larry Moyer Trucking, 902 S.W.2d 760 (Ark. 1995).
In cases where there are both tort and contract claims, attorney fees are proper only when the
action is primarily based in contract. Meyer v. Riverdale Harbor Municipal Property Owners
Improvement Dist. No. 1 of Little Rock, Ark., 947 S.W.2d 20 (Ark. 1997).
This case involves both tort and contract claims, but there is nothing to suggest that it is
primarily based in contract. In fact, it appears quite the opposite. Defendant’s 10-page Motion
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for Summary Judgment only dedicated a single paragraph to Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim,
while proffering over two pages related to the negligence claim. The underlying facts also seem
to necessitate more emphasis on the negligence claim than the breach of contract or promissory
estoppel claims. An award for attorneys’ fees would be inappropriate under such circumstances.
Accordingly, the Court finds that Defendant’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs should be
and hereby is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 31th day of May, 2013.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge
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