My family has been involved in a dispute with a water district regarding whos responsibility it is to repair a broken water line in a special district of Colorado. A jury ruled that we are responsible for the repairs to the water line itself but not for the street cut. The total bill was about $20,000. The decision results in approximately a split judgement in which the water company pays half of the total bill and my family pays half. However, the judge ruled that my family is responsible for ALL of the attorney fees, resulting in a $50,000 bill for what was originally a $20,000 dollar repair despite the split decision. We are set to appeal this decision.
Is the judge's ruling correct? Are we responsible for ALL of the attorney fees even though the case resulted in a split decision? What are the applicable statutes?
I have been reading about the "American Rule" which says that each party is responsible for their own attorney fees. Why didn't this apply?
Is the judge's ruling correct? Are we responsible for ALL of the attorney fees even though the case resulted in a split decision? What are the applicable statutes?
I have been reading about the "American Rule" which says that each party is responsible for their own attorney fees. Why didn't this apply?