§ 2.8.1 TRIAL COURT'S DECISION TO AWARD OR DENY FEES

JurisdictionArizona

A.R.S. § 12-341.01(C) provides: "The Court and not a jury shall award reasonable attorney fees under this section." Fee awards under A.R.S. § 12-341.01(A) are permissive and the trial court has broad discretion to determine whether attorneys' fees should be awarded. E.g., Merkens v. Federal Ins. Co., 237 Ariz. 274, 279, ¶ 23, 349 P.3d 1111, 1116 (App. 2015); State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. v. Arrington, 192 Ariz. 255, 261, 963 P.2d 334, 340 (App. 1998); Pettay v. Insurance Mktg. Servs., 156 Ariz. 365, 368, 752 P.2d 18, 21 (App. 1987); Solar-West, Inc. v. Falk, 141 Ariz. 414, 421, 687 P.2d 939, 946 (App. 1984). A trial court's decision awarding or denying fees will not be reversed unless there has been an abuse of discretion. Associated Indem. Corp. v. Warner, 143 Ariz. 567, 694 P.2d 1181 (1985); Ayres v. Red Cloud Mills, Ltd., 167 Ariz. 474, 808 P.2d 1226 (App. 1990); Grand Real Estate, Inc. v. Sirignano, 139 Ariz. 8, 676 P.2d 642 (App. 1983). Accordingly, the trial court's ruling will not be set aside unless it lacks any reasonable basis. Tucson Estates Property Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. McGovern, 239 Ariz. 52, ¶ 12, 366 P.3d 111, 115 (App. 2016); Rowland v. Great States Ins., 199 Ariz. 577, 587, ¶ 31, 20 P.3d 1158, 1168 (App. 2001); Horton v. Mitchell, 200 Ariz. 523, 528, ¶ 21, 29 P.3d 870, 875 (App. 2001). In making that determination, the court of appeals will view the record in the light most favorable to upholding the lower court's decision. Merkens, 237 Ariz. at 279, ¶ 22, 349 P.3d at 1116; Rowland, 199 Ariz. at 577, 20 P.3d at 1158. The trial court is not required to set forth a detailed basis for its fee award or denial of a fee award; as long as record reflects a reasonable basis for the decision, the appellate...

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