§ 15.14 ATTORNEYS' FEES AWARDS IN EMPLOYMENT-RELATED TORT ACTIONS

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

§ 15.14 Attorneys' Fees Awards in Employment-Related Tort Actions

In the employment context, tort actions that arise out of and are related to a contract action can serve as a basis for an attorneys' fee award under A.R.S. § 12-341.01(A). See Modular Mining Sys., Inc. v. Jigsaw Technologies, Inc., 221 Ariz. 515, 522, ¶ 23, 212 P.3d 853, 860 (App. 2009) ("[A] successful party on a contract claim may recover not only attorney fees expended on the contract claim, but also fees expended in litigating an 'interwoven' tort claim." (quoting Ramsey Air Meds, LLC v. Cutter Aviation, Inc., 198 Ariz. 10, 13, ¶ 17, 6 P.3d 315, 318 (App. 2000)); see also Sparks v. Republic Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 132 Ariz. 429, 543, 647 P.2d 1127, 1141 (1982) ("[A]ttorney's fees may be awarded pursuant to § 12-341.01(A) based upon facts which show a breach of contract, the breach of which may also constitute a tort. The fact that the two legal theories are intertwined does not preclude recovery of attorney's fees under § 12-341.01(A) as long as the cause of action in tort could not exist but for the breach of the contract.").

In addition, an employer or employee may be awarded costs and attorneys' fees on appeal as a sanction for the appeal of a dismissed tort action that is "frivolous or taken solely for the purpose of delay." Ariz. R. Civ. App. P. 25.

Abrams v. Horizon Corp., 137 Ariz. 73, 669 P.2d 51 (1983)................................................................... 15-6

Barth v. Cochise Cnty., 213 Ariz. 59, 138 P.3d 1186 (App. 2006).......................................................... 15-5

Bogard v. Cannon & Wendt Elec. Co., Inc., 221 Ariz. 325, 212 P.3d 17 (App. 2009)......................... 15-2

Calisi v. Unified Fin. Servs., LLC, 232 Ariz. 103, 302 P.3d 628 (App. 2013)..................................... 15-9

Canady v. Prescott Canyon Estates Homeowners Ass'n, 204 Ariz. 91, 60 P.3d 231 (App. 2002)......... 15-3

Hanley v. Pearson, 204 Ariz. 147, 61 P.3d 29 (App. 2003)...................................................................... 15-6

Harris v. Maricopa Cnty. Super. Ct., 631 F.3d 963 (9th Cir. 2011)......................................................... 15-2

HTS, Inc. v. Boley, 954 F. Supp. 2d 927 (D. Ariz. 2013)........................................................................ 15-8

Lacer v. Navajo Cnty, 141 Ariz. 392, 687 P.2d 400 (App. 1984)........................................................... 15-5

McCluskey v. Indus. Comm'n., 80 Ariz. 255, 296 P.2d 443 (1956).......................................................... 15-8

Modular Mining Sys., Inc. v. Jigsaw Technologies, Inc., 221 Ariz. 515, 212 P.3d 853 (App. 2009).. 15-8, 9

Ramsey Air Meds, LLC v. Cutter Aviation, Inc., 198 Ariz. 10, 6 P.3d 315 (App. 2000).................... 15-9

San Diego Police Officers' Ass'n v. San Diego, 568 F.3d 725 (9th Cir. 2009).......................................... 15-2

Sanborn v. Brooker & Wake Property Mgt., 178 Ariz. 425, 874 P.2d 982 (App. 1994)...................... 15-6

Schade v. Diethrich, 158 Ariz. 1, 760 P.2d 1050 (1988)............................................................................ 15-6

Schweiger v. China Doll Rest., 138 Ariz. 183, 673 P.2d 927 (App. 1983).............................................. 15-5

Sees v. KTUC, Inc., 148 Ariz. 366, 714 P.2d 859 (App...