Attorney's Fees—Class Actions

The Montana Supreme Court reviews a trial court's ruling awarding attorney's fees in a 42 U.S.C. §1983 class action lawsuit for an abuse of discretion.  Germann v. Stephens, 2006 MT 130, ¶ 22, 332 Mont. 303, 137 P.3d 545 (citing Ihler v. Chisholm, 2000 MT 37, ¶ 24, 298 Mont. 254, 995 P.2d 439).  "A district court abuses its discretion if it bases  its fee award upon an inaccurate view of the law or a clearly erroneous finding of fact."  Germann, ¶ 22.