United States Ninth Circuit

In a breach of contract suit regarding repairs to a ship, denial of plaintiffs' motion for attorneys' fees is affirmed where, under the American Rule, which applies in maritime litigation, plaintiffs are not entitled to attorneys' fees absent statutory authorization, an enforceable contractual provision, or an equitable exception to the rule. Since none of those elements were present, the district court properly denied plaintiffs' motion.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/24/2007
• Published 07/24/2007

Judges

• PAEZ, Circuit Judge:, Before:  RONALD M. GOULD, RICHARD A. PAEZ, and JOHNNIE B. RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Dennis M. Moran, Seattle, WA, for the appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Daniel F. Knox and Mario J. Madden, Portland, OR, and Christopher Howard, Seattle, WA, for the appellee.