(DOWNLOAD) "Martin v. Allen" by Colorado Supreme Court No. C-1052 # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Martin v. Allen
- Author : Colorado Supreme Court No. C-1052
- Release Date : January 25, 1977
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 47 KB
Description
In 1976, pursuant to section 38-12-103, C.R.S. 1973, the Arapahoe County Court awarded tenant, petitioner here, $300 in damages and $200 in attorney's fees for the respondent-landlord's improper retention of the tenant's security deposit. The amount of the fees was determined from the lawyer's testimony concernig her normal hourly rate and the amount of time spent on this case. Additionally, the tenant testified that she was aware of the hourly rate and of her obligation to pay. The landlord appealed to the district court on all issues, and, although the judgment for the willful retention of the security deposit was affirmed, the district court reversed the award of attorney's fees stating that the tenant had failed to show a specific amount that had been paid or incurred. Furthermore, the district court refused to award attorney's fees for the appeal contending that such an award was not authorized by statute. We granted certiorari to review these conclusions and we now reverse as to both. Section 38-12-103, C.R.S. 1973, authorizes the award of treble the amount of a security deposit and reasonable attorney's fees when a landlord willfully fails to return the deposit within thirty days of termination of the leasehold. This statute, salutary in nature, is designed to assist tenants in vindicating their legal rights and to equalize the disparity in power which exists between landlord and tenant in conflicts over such relatively small sums. To deny attorney's fees to tenants who are forced to prosecute an appeal would undercut the objectives of these provisions. Landlords, by the simple expedient of an appeal, could effectively discourage tenants from obtaining legal redress. We, therefore, hold that tenants who are successful on appeal are entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees. See Heatherridge Management Company v. Benson, 192 Colo. 190, 558 P.2d 435 (1976). Cf. International Security Life Insurance Co. v. Spray, 468 S.W.2d 347 (Tex. 1971); Francisco v. Board of Directors of Bellevue Public Schools, 11 Wash. App. 763, 525 P.2d 278 (1974), aff'd, 85 Wash. App. 712, 537 P.2d 789 (1975).
 "Martin v. Allen" by Colorado Supreme Court No. C-1052 # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free){kind=link}