OSCN Found Document:NATL. EDUC. LIFE INS. CO. v. APACHE LANES, INC.

NATL. EDUC. LIFE INS. CO. v. APACHE LANES, INC.
1976 OK 121

555 P.2d 600
Case Number: 48648
Decided: 09/21/1976
Supreme Court of Oklahoma


Cite as: 1976 OK 121, 555 P.2d 600


NATIONAL EDUCATORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, APPELLANT,
v.
APACHE LANES, INC., A CORPORATION, ET AL., APPELLEES.

Appeal from the District Court of Tulsa County; Raymond W. Graham, Judge.

¶0 Appeal from an order of the trial court overruling appellant's motion for new trial assessing attorney fees and taxing costs against appellant in favor of appellees in the amount of $22,285.38. JUDGMENT AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART.

James D. Fellers, Michael L. Smith, Fellers, Snider, Blankenship & Bailey, Oklahoma City, for appellant.

C. Rabon Martin, Baker, Baker & Martin, Tulsa, for appellees.

HODGES, Vice Chief Justice.

¶1 We are asked to reverse a trial court's award of attorney fees and costs arising out of a successful defense in an action brought by the appellant against the appellees who were guarantors on a note. (See: Apache Lanes, Inc. v. National Educators Life Ins. Co., 529 P.2d 984 [Okl. 1975]).

¶2 Appellant alleges three propositions of error:

(1) The action sued on was a contract for guaranty and is not one of the actions which Oklahoma law permits attorney fees to be taxed as costs;
(2) The award of $20,000.00 was grossly excessive and contrary to the purpose and principle of the award of attorney fees;
(3) The bill of costs contained items not applicable in the instant case and over which the trial court had no jurisdiction.

¶3 As a basic premise to the issues involved, it is well established that the right to costs and attorney fees did not exist at common law and, therefore, any award must be based upon a statutory enactment. Owens v. Clark, 177 Okl. 519, 61 P.2d 201 (1936); Globe & Republic Insurance Co. v. Independent Trucking Co., 387 P.2d 644 (Okl. 1963).

¶4 Title 12 O.S. 1971 § 936 provides:

In any civil action to recover on an open account, a statement of account, account stated, note, bill, negotiable instrument, or contract relating to the purchase or sale of goods, wares, or merchandise, or for labor or services, unless otherwise provided by law or the contract which is the subject to the action, the prevailing party shall be allowed a reasonable attorney fee to be set by the court, to be taxed and collected as costs.

¶5 Appellant argues that an action on a contract of guaranty is not expressly stated in the above statute and the award of attorney fees by the trial court was in error. We disagree.

¶6 Appellant brought an action on a note and foreclosure of a mortgage against the principal debtor, Apache Lanes, and against the six individual guarantors, who are the appellees herein. The statute expressly provides for attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action on a "note" which is involved in this action. The appellees had unconditionally guaranteed payment of the note. Their guaranty, which was endorsed on the note itself, was a direct promise to pay the note. In such instances, we find the action on the note and contract of guaranty was covered by the statute.

¶7 Appellant's second proposition assailing the amount of attorney fees as excessive is not an appealable issue. After the trial court entered its judgment for costs and attorney fees, appellant, through prior counsel, filed a motion for a new trial, alleging that the award of attorney fees was not permitted under the statute and that certain items of costs were not recoverable. There was no allegation that the amount of attorney fees was excessive. 12 O.S. 1971 § 991 (b) provides:

If a motion for a new trial be filed and a new trial be denied, the movant may not, on the appeal, raise allegations of error that were available to him at the time of the filing of his motion for a new trial but were not therein asserted.

¶8 Appellant's belated amendment to its motion for new trial, alleging the award was excessive, cannot be reviewed. The amendment raised a new allegation of error that was available to it at the time of the filing of its original motion for a new trial. New and independent allegations of error cannot be considered if filed beyond the statutory period. 12 O.S. 1971 § 653 ; Campbell v. Apple, 179 Okl. 38, 64 P.2d 331 (1937); So. Kansas Stage Lines v. Wynne, 178 Okl. 440, 63 P.2d 68 (1937).

¶9 Appellant's third proposition challenged the trial court's jurisdiction to award costs. It contends Supreme Court Rule No. 32 (12 O.S. 1971 Ch. 15 App. 1) sets out the procedure for costs and unless complied with, the right of taxing appeal costs in the trial court is lost.

¶10 A prevailing party in a lawsuit is entitled to be reimbursed for certain items of costs. Those costs may be awarded either by the Supreme Court, if case has been appealed, or by the trial court. If the prevailing party seeks the recovery of costs in the Supreme Court then he must follow the procedure set out in Rule 32. It does not, as appellant contends, deprive the trial court of awarding costs before mandate has been spread of record.

¶11 Appellant next complains that certain items awarded as costs are not allowable. We agree. Premiums paid for supersedeas bond in the amount of $1,050.00, costs of printing briefs in the amount of $419.38 and $300.00 for an expert witness fee are not statutorily sanctioned, and must be deleted from the award. City of Moore v. Central Okla. Master Conservancy District, 441 P.2d 452 (Okl. 1968). Appellees' contention that appellant's failure to timely object to these items is without merit.

¶12 We also find that appellees' motion for judgment with interest is without merit. In McAlester Urban Renewal Authority v. Hamilton, 521 P.2d 823 (Okl. 1974), we held in the absence of a statute authorizing it, interest on costs awarded cannot be allowed. We decline to overrule the case as suggested by appellees, and reaffirm its holding.

¶13 The order of the trial court awarding costs in the amount of $22,285.38 is affirmed in part, and reversed in part as herein directed. Appellees' motion for additional attorney fees for defending this action on appeal is denied.

¶14 All Justices concur.

¶15 SIMMS and DOOLIN, JJ., having certified their disqualification in this case, Hon. C.F. BLISS, Jr. and LESTER A. REYNOLDS, were appointed Special Justices in their stead.

 

Citationizer© Summary of Documents Citing This Document
Cite Name Level
Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals Cases
 CiteNameLevel
 1992 OK CIV APP 175, 849 P.2d 437, 64 OBJ 1096, Cadle Co. v. BiancoCited
 1995 OK CIV APP 43, 898 P.2d 172, 66 OBJ 1989, Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. v. Welco, Inc.Cited
 2008 OK CIV APP 18, 178 P.3d 186, STATON v. GUARANTEE STATE BANK OF MANGUMDiscussed
 2012 OK CIV APP 7, 270 P.3d 220, BANK of KREMLIN v. DAVISDiscussed
 1977 OK CIV APP 13, 566 P.2d 157, BOWLES v. CITY NAT. BANKCited
 1978 OK CIV APP 51, 588 P.2d 592, FED. NAT. BANK & TRUST CO. OF SHAWNEE v. RYANCited
 2016 OK CIV APP 51, 377 P.3d 1285, THE PEOPLE'S NATIONAL BANK v. ALLISONDiscussed
 1979 OK CIV APP 33, 597 P.2d 1226, LANGDON v. SAGA CORP.Cited
 1998 OK CIV APP 143, 965 P.2d 1012, 69 OBJ 3527, Atchley v. HewesDiscussed
Oklahoma Supreme Court Cases
 CiteNameLevel
 1987 OK 62, 740 P.2d 717, 58 OBJ 2061, Chamberlain v. American AirlinesCited
 1988 OK 90, 762 P.2d 928, 59 OBJ 1961, Federal Nat. Bank & Trust Co. of Shawnee v. Shanon Drilling, Inc.Cited
 1988 OK 145, 782 P.2d 103, 59 OBJ 3468, Sunrizon Homes, Inc. v. American Guar. Inv. Corp.Cited
 1991 OK 121, 824 P.2d 1102, 62 OBJ 3592, Borst v. Bright Mortg. Co.Discussed
 1992 OK 107, 834 P.2d 974, 63 OBJ 2103, Cunningham v. Public Service Co. of OklahomaCited
 2009 OK 77, 224 P.3d 685, BANK OF OKLAHOMA v. RED ARROW MARINA SALES & SERVICEDiscussed
 1980 OK 72, 613 P.2d 438, Riverside Nat. Bank v. ManolakisCited
 1978 OK 118, 584 P.2d 222, WABAUNSEE v. ARMSTRONGCited
 1980 OK 112, 614 P.2d 576, Riffe Petroleum Co. v. Great Nat. Corp., Inc.Cited
 1981 OK 22, 625 P.2d 106, Hamilton v. Telex Corp.Cited
 1982 OK 61, 646 P.2d 1262, Professional Const. Consultants, Inc. v. State ex rel. GrimesCited
 1983 OK 109, 673 P.2d 836, Abel v. TisdaleCited
 1984 OK 33, 682 P.2d 225, Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. v. TravisCited
 1984 OK 44, 687 P.2d 1045, Dulan v. JohnstonCited
 1984 OK 47, 695 P.2d 1334, United General Ins. Co. v. Crane Carrier Co.Cited
Citationizer: Table of Authority
Cite Name Level
Oklahoma Supreme Court Cases
 CiteNameLevel
 1937 OK 5, 64 P.2d 331, 179 Okla. 38, CAMPBELL v. APPLECited
 1936 OK 558, 61 P.2d 201, 177 Okla. 519, OWENS v.Cited
 1936 OK 826, 63 P.2d 68, 178 Okla. 440, SOUTHERN KANSAS STAGE LINES CO. v. WYNNECited
 1963 OK 274, 387 P.2d 644, GLOBE & REPUBLIC INS. CO. v. INDEPENDENT TRUCKINGCited
 1968 OK 81, 441 P.2d 452, CITY OF MOORE v. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA MASTER CON. DISTCited
 1974 OK 50, 521 P.2d 823, McALESTER URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY v. HAMILTONCited
 1974 OK 106, 529 P.2d 984, APACHE LANES, INC. v. NATIONAL EDUCATORS LIFE INS.Cited
Title 12. Civil Procedure
 CiteNameLevel
 12 O.S. 653, Time for Filing Application for New TrialCited
 12 O.S. 936, Action on Open Account - Attorney's Fee as CostsCited
 12 O.S. 991, Right to Perfect Appeal to Supreme Court without Filing Motion for New Trial - ExemptionCited