A. Procedure. Before costs may be taxed, the prevailing party entitled to recover
costs must file and serve a verified bill of costs within 28 calendar days after
entry of judgment or an order of dismissal. The party liable for costs may
within 14 calendar days thereafter file exceptions to the costs or any specific
item therein.
The clerk of court may then tax costs and, upon allowance, the costs will be
included in the judgment or decree. Upon motion of either party within 7
calendar days after the clerk taxes costs, the action of the clerk may be
reviewed by the court.
B. Default Judgment. In a default judgment case, the clerk of court may tax
costs as a matter of course without notice.
C. Attorney=s Fees. A party moving for attorney=s fees must file and serve a
motion and an affidavit setting out the time reasonably spent in the litigation
and any factual matters pertinent to the motion for attorney=s fees. The
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motion must be filed no later than 28 calendar days after the entry of
judgment absent a showing of good cause. The respondent may file and serve
a response and counter affidavit controverting or asserting any factual
matters bearing on the award of attorney=s fees.
Objections to an allowance of attorney=s fees must be filed within 21 calendar
days after service on the party against whom the award of attorney=s fees is
sought. The movant may file a reply brief within 14 calendar days after service
of the responsive brief. The court will then determine the appropriate
attorney=s fees, if any, without further hearing, unless in the court’s opinion
a hearing is needed to resolve serious factual disputes between the parties.
On its own motion, the court may grant an allowance of reasonable attorney=s
fees to a prevailing party in appropriate cases.
The failure to move for an award of attorney=s fees within the prescribed time
may be considered by the court to be a waiver of any claim for attorney=s fees.
