§ 3.3 CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION OF CONTRACTUAL FEE PROVISIONS

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

It is well settled under Arizona law that a contractual provision for attorneys' fees will be enforced according to its terms. Sirrah Enters., LLC v. Wunderlich, 240 Ariz. 163, 168, ¶ 11, 377 P.3d 360, 365 (App. 2016). See Bennett Blum, M.D., Inc. v. Cowan, 235 Ariz. 204, ¶ 8, 330 P.3d 961 (App. 2014); McDowell Mountain Ranch Cmty. Ass'n v. Simons, 216 Ariz. 266, ¶ 14, 165 P.3d 667, 670 (App. 2007); Data Sales Co. v. Diamond Z Mfg., 205 Ariz. 594, 601, 74 P.3d 268, 275 (App. 2003); F.D.I.C. v. Adams, 187 Ariz. 585, 595, 931 P.2d 1095, 1105 (App. 1996). Where a contractual provision for attorneys' fee applies by its terms and directs an award of fees, "a court lacks discretion to refuse to award attorney fees under a contractual provision." Bennett Blum, M.D. Inc., 235 Ariz. at 206; 204, 330 P.3d at 963; see also Bennett v. Appaloosa Horse Club, 201 Ariz. 372, 378, 35 P.3d 426, 432 (App. 2001) (where a contract directs a fee to be awarded to the prevailing party with no vesting of discretion in the court the "awarding of...