Bloemsma v. Auto Club Insurance

476 N.W.2d 487, 190 Mich. App. 686
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 19, 1991
DocketDocket 121616, 123235
StatusPublished
Cited by39 cases

This text of 476 N.W.2d 487 (Bloemsma v. Auto Club Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bloemsma v. Auto Club Insurance, 476 N.W.2d 487, 190 Mich. App. 686 (Mich. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

AFTER REMAND

Before: Doctoroff, P.J., and Maher and Cav-ANAGH, JJ.

*688 Doctoroff, P.J.

Plaintiff appeals as of right from orders of the circuit court awarding attorney fees and costs to plaintiff. Plaintiff argues that the trial court erred in not awarding attorney fees for services provided during trial, after trial, and on appeal and in not awarding actual costs. Defendant cross appeals, asserting that plaintiffs claim for appellate attorney fees and costs is vexatious and frivolous and, therefore, it is entitled to reasonable attorney fees. The appeals were consolidated by the Court of Appeals. We reverse and remand.

This case is before us for the second time. In its first opinion, this Court held that the trial court erred in finding that defendant’s delay in making personal injury protection benefit payments to plaintiff was reasonable and remanded for recalculation of penalty interest and judgment interest. Bloemsma v Auto Club Ins Co, 174 Mich App 692; 436 NW2d 442 (1989). This Court also ordered the trial court to award reasonable attorney fees to plaintiff. Id., p 698.

On remand, the trial court issued an opinion dated Friday, June 2, 1989, and filed Monday, June 5, 1989, awarding plaintiff attorney fees in the amount of $4,269. This award was based on a statement submitted by plaintiffs attorney during trial on December 5, 1986, which itemized services provided through December 4, 1986. The court determined that $75 an hour was a reasonable fee for the 56.92 hours expended.

On June 5, 1989, plaintiff, before receiving notice of the trial court’s order, filed a motion for attorney fees and costs, claiming attorney fees for the December 5, 1986, trial and for hours expended after the December 5, 1986, trial. At a hearing on June 12, 1989, the trial court denied *689 plaintiffs request for additional attorney fees, but granted plaintiffs request for costs, including those incurred on appeal. An order in accordance with the trial court’s ruling was entered on September 21, 1989. A third order was entered on November 2,1989, setting forth the costs allowed.

Plaintiff argues that the trial court erred in not awarding attorney fees for services provided during trial and on appeal. Plaintiff contends that he is entitled to an award of those fees because the time spent during trial and on the two appeals was expended in an effort to collect the benefits claimed.

In this case, attorney fees were granted pursuant to MCL 500.3148(1); MSA 24.13148(1), which states:

An attorney is entitled to a reasonable fee for advising and representing a claimant in an action for personal or property protection insurance benefits which are overdue. The attorney’s fee shall be a charge against the insurer in addition to the benefits recovered, if the court finds that the insurer unreasonably refused to pay the claim or unreasonably delayed in making proper payment.

In determining the reasonableness of an attorney’s fee, the trial court should consider (1) the professional standing and experience of the attorney, (2) the skill, time, and labor involved, (3) the amount in question and results achieved, (4) the difficulty of the case, (5) the expenses incurred, and (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship between the attorney and client. Wood v DAIIE, 413 Mich 573, 588; 321 NW2d 653 (1982). However, the trial court is not limited to these factors and need not detail its findings with regard to each specific factor. Id. An award of attorney fees will be upheld on appeal unless the *690 trial court’s determination regarding the "reasonableness” issue was an abuse of discretion. Id.; Smolen v Dahlmann Apartments, Ltd, 186 Mich App 292, 296; 463 NW2d 261 (1990).

The trial court’s denial of plaintiff’s request for fees other than those itemized in the statement submitted on the day of trial was based on its conclusion that the case had been remanded for the recalculation of attorney fees and not to allow the presentation of additional evidence. We agree with plaintiff that the trial court erred. This matter was remanded to the trial court with instructions that it award reasonable attorney fees to plaintiff. The determination of reasonable attorney fees requires that the trial court take into account the totality of the circumstances of the case. Id., p 297. We are unable to find any authority for the trial court’s conclusion that plaintiff’s attorney was prohibited on remand from presenting evidence related to the time, labor, and expenses involved in advising and representing plaintiff during trial and thereafter. Clearly, plaintiff was entitled to a reasonable attorney fee for the services rendered on this matter up to and including trial.

Plaintiff also argues that the trial court erred in not awarding attorney fees for the services rendered on appeal. We agree.

This Court has held that a statutory provision for attorney fees applies to appellate proceedings when the statute does not place any restrictions on the recovery of attorney fees and does not limit attorney fees to services rendered at the trial court level. Smolen, supra (provision for attorney fees under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, MCL 445.901 et seq.; MSA 19.418(1) et seq., applies to appellate proceedings). Although the provision for attorney fees at issue here, MCL 500.3148(1); *691 MSA 24.13148(1), restricts an award of attorney fees to cases in which the court finds that the insurer unreasonably refused to pay the claim or unreasonably delayed in making proper payment, no other restrictions are imposed, and the award of attorney fees is not limited to services rendered at the trial court level. We conclude that attorney fees for services on appeal can be awarded under MCL 500.3148(1); MSA 24.13148(1). Thus, on remand, the trial court is to consider services rendered on appeal.

Plaintiff also argues that the trial court abused its discretion in determining that $75 an hour was reasonable and that it failed to consider the contingency fee arrangement. In its opinion, the trial court stated that it considered the factors listed in Wood in determining a reasonable fee, but did not indicate its findings on any of the factors. We are not convinced and will not assume that the trial court abused its discretion in determining that $75 an hour was reasonable. We also decline to address plaintiffs assertion that the trial court failed to consider the contingency fee arrangement. The record provided to this Court indicates that plaintiff sought attorney fees based upon the time and labor expended by counsel, and not based upon a contingency fee arrangement. Error requiring reversal must be that of the trial court, and not error to which the appellant contributed by plan or negligence. Smith v Musgrove, 372 Mich 329, 337; 125 NW2d 869 (1964); Harrigan v Ford Motor Co, 159 Mich App 776, 786; 406 NW2d 917 (1987), app dis 431 Mich 905 (1988).

Plaintiff next claims that the trial court erred in not awarding actual costs.

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Bluebook (online)
476 N.W.2d 487, 190 Mich. App. 686, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bloemsma-v-auto-club-insurance-michctapp-1991.