Wakefield v. Bohlin , 145 Cal. App. 4th 963 ( 2006 )

Opinion

McADAMS, J.

This is the second appeal in this civil action, which was brought by plaintiff Ronald Wakefield following his purchase of a home from defendants Jeff and Charlotte Bohlin. In Wakefield’s first appeal, we affirmed the trial court’s disposition of three causes of action in the Bohlins’ favor, two by summary adjudication and one by nonsuit. In this appeal, Wakefield contests the trial court’s postjudgment award of attorney fees and costs to the Bohlins, which was based on the court’s determination that they were prevailing parties.

We conclude that the trial court erred. As we explain: (1) Plaintiff Ronald Wakefield categorically qualifies as a prevailing party, and he is entitled to recover his litigation costs, including attorney fees. (2) Defendant Jeff Bohlin is not a prevailing party, and he may not recover costs or fees. (3) Because of the Bohlins’ unity of interest in this litigation, Charlotte Bohlin is not categorically a prevailing party, and any cost award in her favor is discretionary and subject to apportionment; moreover, she is not entitled to recover attorney fees. We therefore reverse the order awarding costs and fees, and we remand the matter to the trial court for further proceedings.

BACKGROUND¹

Facts

In 1999, the Bohlins purchased a house on Finch Drive in San Jose. Jeff Bohlin extensively remodeled the house, essentially constructing a new, larger home around the old one, leaving only the original foundation.

In 2001, Wakefield purchased the Finch Drive property from the Bohlins. Shortly after Wakefield moved into the property, various construction defects and other problems with the home became evident.

The Complaint

In June 2002, Wakefield filed this litigation against the Bohlins and others. The other defendants included the Bohlins’ real estate agent, Fred Davis, and his agency, Century 21, SVGA, Inc. (collectively, the realtor defendants), and Talayeras Plastering and some of its principals (collectively, the plastering defendants). The litigation also generated third party cross-complaints, but neither the Bohlins nor any other defendants cross-complained against Wakefield.

Wakefield asserted six causes of action in his complaint: negligent misrepresentation and fraud, which Wakefield asserted against the Bohlins and the realtor defendants; professional negligence, against the realtor defendants only; negligence, against Jeff Bohlin and the plastering defendants; and developers’ strict liability and breach of implied warranty, asserted against the Bohlins only. Wakefield sought compensatory and punitive damages, plus costs of suit, including attorney fees.

Resolution of Wakefield’s Claims

Summary Adjudication: In May 2004, the trial court disposed of the fifth and sixth causes of action of Wakefield’s complaint (for strict liability and breach of implied warranty) when it granted the Bohlins’ motion for summary adjudication as to those claims.

Settlements: As the August 2004 trial date approached, Wakefield settled his claims against all defendants except the Bohlins. The realtor defendants, who were named in the first, second, and third causes of action, paid Wakefield $45,000. The plastering defendants, named in the fourth cause of action, paid Wakefield $51,700.

Nonsuit: In August 2004, the case went to jury trial. Following Wakefield’s offer of proof, the trial court granted nonsuit in favor of Jeff Bohlin on Wakefield’s fourth cause of action for negligence.

Verdict: Wakefield’s remaining claims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation were then tried to the jury. On the fraud claim, the jury returned with a verdict in favor of both Jeff and Charlotte Bohlin. On the cause of action for negligent misrepresentation, the jury exonerated Charlotte Bohlin, but it found against Jeff Bohlin and in favor of Wakefield on that claim, and it awarded Wakefield $33,950 in damages.

Judgment

In August 2004, the court entered judgment.

The judgment recites the results of the special jury verdicts, and it also notes the earlier disposition of Wakefield’s other claims by summary adjudication, nonsuit, and settlement.

The judgment orders (1) that “plaintiff shall take nothing by his complaint from defendant Charlotte Bohlin and that Charlotte Bohlin have and recover from [Wakefield] costs and attorney fees as provided by law”; and (2) “that plaintiff shall take nothing by his complaint from defendant Jeff Bohlin. Any claim for costs and attorney fees as between these parties shall be determined in accordance with law.”

Cost Award

In August 2004, Wakefield objected to the court’s preliminary determination that the Bohlins were the prevailing parties. The Bohlins responded to that objection.

In September 2004, the Bohlins and Wakefield each filed a memorandum of costs. Each side also moved to strike or tax the costs claimed by the other.

In October 2004, Wakefield filed a motion, seeking a determination that he was the prevailing party and asking the court for attorney fees. The Bohlins filed a similar motion.

In November 2004, the court heard argument from both parties, then took the matter under submission. Its subsequent written ruling states: “The court determines that defendants Jeff and Charlotte Bohlin are prevailing parties. Costs are awarded in favor of Jeff and Charlotte Bohlin and against Ronald R Wakefield, jointly and severally, as follows: $100,000.00 as reasonable attorney’s fees and $7,721.00 non-attorney fee costs as shown on the memorandum of costs filed September 7, 2004. Total costs, including attorney’s fees are awarded in favor of Jeff and Charlotte Bolin and against Ronald R Wakefield, jointly and severally, in the amount of $107,721.00. [f] The motion brought by Ronald R Wakefield to determine that he is the prevailing party, and to award him attorney fees and costs, is denied in its entirety.”

Appeals

In his first appeal, Wakefield challenged the August 2004 judgment, asserting that the trial court erred in disposing of his fourth, fifth, and sixth causes of actions by nonsuit and summary adjudication. We resolved those claims adversely to Wakefield in our unpublished opinion in Wakefield v. Bohlin, supra, H028008.

Wakefield gave notice of this second appeal in December 2004. In this appeal, Wakefield challenges the November 2004 postjudgment order that awards the Bohlins their costs, including attorney fees.

CONTENTIONS

Wakefield asserts that he is a prevailing party entitled to his costs as a matter of right under Code of Civil Procedure section 1032.² He contends that the trial court lacked discretion to consider the pretrial settlements in making its prevailing party determination. Alternatively, Wakefield argues, the court abused its discretion in awarding costs to the Bohlins, because they failed to comply with the mediation clause in the real estate purchase contract.

The Bohlins defend the trial court’s order. First, they dispute Wakefield’s entitlement to costs under section 1032, arguing that he does not fall within any of the four categorical definitions of prevailing party that give rise to a mandatory cost award. By contrast, they assert, categorically, Charlotte Bohlin was a prevailing party. Finally, they contend, the trial court’s award of costs and fees to Jeff Bohlin was within its discretion.

DISCUSSION

To provide the proper framework for our analysis, we begin by describing the governing legal principles. We then apply them to the case at hand.

I. General Legal Principles

“The right to recover costs is wholly dependent on statute.” (Crib Retaining Walls, Inc. v. NBS/Lowry, Inc. (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 886, 889 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 850].) In this case, the relevant statute is section 1032.

A. Prevailing Party

1. Definition

Section 1032 defines prevailing party for purposes of an award of litigation costs. It reads: “(a) As used in filis section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise: [f] . . . [][] 4) ‘Prevailing party’ includes the party with a net monetary recovery, a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, a defendant where neither plaintiff nor defendant obtains any relief, and a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that defendant. When any party recovers other than monetary relief and in situations other than as specified, the ‘prevailing party’ shall be as determined by the court, and under those circumstances, the court, in its discretion, may allow costs or not and, if allowed may apportion costs between the parties on the same or adverse sides pursuant to rules adopted under Section 1034.” (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).)

2. Entitlement to costs

Under section 1032, the prevailing party in litigation is entitled to costs. Subdivision (b) thus provides: “Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute, a prevailing party is entitled as a matter of right to recover costs in any action or proceeding.” (§ 1032, subd. (b); see Chaparral Greens v. City of Chula Vista (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 1134, 1151-1152 [58 Cal.Rptr.2d 152].)

B. Attorney Fees as Allowable Costs

Attorney fees are allowable as costs, but only if they are authorized by law or by contract. (§§ 1033.5, subd. (a)(10), 1021.) “Thus, recoverable litigation costs do include attorney fees, but only when the party entitled to costs has a legal basis, independent of the cost statutes and grounded in an agreement, statute, or other law, upon which to claim recovery of attorney fees.” (Santisas v. Goodin (1998) 17 Cal.4th 599, 606 [71 Cal.Rptr.2d 830, 951 P.2d 399] (Santisas).)

Here, both sides claim attorney fees based on their real estate purchase contract, which contains a broad attorney fee clause.³ “If a contractual attorney fee provision is phrased broadly enough, ... it may support an award of attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action alleging both contract and tort claims . . . .” (Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 608.) But different statutes govern recovery of fees in the two types of actions.

1. Contract claims; Civil Code section 1717

In contract actions, Civil Code section 1717 governs attorney fee agreements. (Sweat v. Hollister (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 603, 610 [43 Cal.Rptr.2d 399], disapproved on another point in Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 609, fn. 5.) “Section 1717 is the applicable statute when determining whether and how attorney’s fees should be awarded under a contract.” (Sears v. Baccaglio (1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 1136, 1157 [70 Cal.Rptr.2d 769] (Sears).) Under Civil Code section 1717, as a general rule, “the party prevailing on the contract shall be the party who recovered a greater relief in the action on the contract.” (Civ. Code, § 1717, subd. (b)(1).) But the statute also allows the court to “determine that there is no party prevailing on the contract for purposes of this section.” (Ibid.)

Notably, however, “Civil Code section 1717 has a limited application. It covers only contract actions, where the theory of the case is breach of contract, and where the contract sued upon itself specifically provides for an award of attorney fees incurred to enforce that contract.” (Xuereb v. Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (1992) 3 Cal.App.4th 1338, 1342 [5 Cal.Rptr.2d 154].) Thus, it has been held that section would not govern where—for example—“the buyers initially sued for breach of contract," but “they did not go to trial on that basis [and instead] limited their action to fraud and negligent misrepresentation.” (Childers v. Edwards (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1544, 1548 [56 Cal.Rptr.2d 328].)

2. Noncontract claims; Sections 1021 and 1033.5

As for attorney fee awards when the claim is not on the contract, the Code of Civil Procedure governs. (Sweat v. Hollister, supra, 37 Cal.App.4th at p. 610.) Sections 1021 and 1033.5 are the relevant provisions.⁴ They appear in part 2, title 14, chapter 6, which deals with litigation costs.

“Using section 1021 as a foundation, a line of cases has held that the type of contractual attorney fee provision at issue here is broad enough to authorize a request for attorney fees in a tort-based misrepresentation action arising out of the contract.” (Childers v. Edwards, supra, 48 Cal.App.4th at p. 1549.) That line of cases culminated with the California Supreme Court’s decision in Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th 599.

As our state’s high court clarified in Santisas, under some circumstances, attorney fees may be recovered under the Code of Civil Procedure, even when they are precluded under Civil Code section 1717. (Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 617-618, 619.) In Santisas, the court thus rejected the argument that “attorney fees incurred to litigate tort or other noncontract claims, which are outside the scope of section 1717, may never be recovered as costs under a contractual attorney fee provision.” {Id. at p. 618.) Thus, even where a litigant does not qualify as a “party prevailing on the contract” under Civil Code section 1717—for example, when there has been a voluntary dismissal, as was the case in Santisas—that circumstance “does not affect the . . . right to recover as costs the attorney fees . . . incurred in defense of the tort claims. Because section 1717 does not apply to those claims [citations], it does not bar recovery of attorney fees that were incurred in litigation of those claims and that are otherwise recoverable as a matter of contract law.” {Santisas, at p. 619.) But as the court explained, “section 1021 does not independently authorize recovery of attorney fees. Rather, consistent with subdivision (a)(10) of . . . section 1033.5, . . . section 1021 recognizes that attorney fees incurred in prosecuting or defending an action may be recovered as costs only when they are otherwise authorized by statute or by the parties’ agreement.” (Id. at p. 607, fn. 4, italics added.)

II. Analysis: Prevailing Party Determination

The statutory definition of prevailing party contains two sentences, each representing a separate definitional prong. (See § 1032, subd. (a)(4).) As the Bohlins aptly describe it, “section 1032 splits ‘prevailing parties’ into two distinct groups: Those specified in the four categories contained in the first sentence of subdivision (a)(4), and those who are within the court’s discretion as defined in the second sentence of subdivision (a)(4).”

A. Section 1032, Subdivision (a)—First Prong

The first prong describes four categories of litigants who automatically qualify as prevailing parties. It reads: “ ‘Prevailing party’ includes [1] the party with a net monetary recovery, [2] a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, [3] a defendant where neither plaintiff nor defendant obtains any relief, and [4] a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that defendant.” (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).)

1. The prevailing party determination is not discretionary under the first prong

As explained in the relevant case law, the trial court has no discretion to deny prevailing party status to a litigant who falls within one of the four statutory categories in the first prong of the provision. “As rewritten [in 1986], section 1032 now declares that costs are available as ‘a matter of right’ when the prevailing party is within one of the four categories designated by statute. (§ 1032, subds. (a)(4), (b).)” (Michell v. Olick (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 1194, 1197 [57 Cal.Rptr.2d 227]; accord, Building Maintenance Service Co. v. AIL Systems, Inc. (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 1014, 1025 [64 Cal.Rptr.2d 353]; see also, 7 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (4th ed. 1997) Judgment, § 90, p. 620; cf., Sears, supra, 60 Cal.App.4th at p. 1156 [describing the statutory categories as “guidelines”].)

Consistent with the foregoing authority, the parties in this case acknowledge the automatic nature of a prevailing party determination under the first prong of the statute. As Wakefield puts it: “A party meeting any one of these [four] definitions is the prevailing party as a matter of right under . . . § 1032(b).” The Bohlins agree, characterizing the first prong as including “four categories of mandatory prevailing parties.”

2. The automatic nature of the determination applies to all four categories

Under the first category, “the court must award reasonable and reasonably necessary costs to a party who has obtained a ‘net monetary recovery.’ ” (Reveles v. Toyota by the Bay (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1151 [67 Cal.Rptr.2d 543], italics added, disapproved on other points in Gavaldon v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1246, 1261 [13 Cal.Rptr.3d 793, 90 P.3d 752]; Snukal v. Flightways Manufacturing, Inc. (2000) 23 Cal.4th 754, 775, fn. 6 [98 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 3 P.3d 286]. Cf., Sears, supra, 60 Cal.App.4th at p. 1155 [stating that the statute does not “limitQ the court’s inquiry solely to net monetary recovery”].) A litigant with a straightforward net monetary recovery falls squarely within the first statutory definition and thus qualifies categorically as a prevailing party. “It is clear from the statutory language that when there is a party with a ‘net monetary recovery’ (one of the four categories of prevailing party), that party is entitled to costs as a matter of right; the trial court has no discretion to order each party to bear his or her own costs.” (Michell v. Olick, supra, 49 Cal.App.4th at p. 1198.)

In contrast to the first category, which applies to any party, the other three categories affect defendants only. As with the first category, however, a determination of prevailing party status generally is automatic for a defendant who falls within any of them.

In Santisas, the California Supreme Court adverted to this conclusion in connection with the second category, saying: “Because plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed this action with prejudice, the seller defendants are defendants in whose favor a dismissal has been entered. Accordingly, they are ‘prevailing parties’ within the meaning of . . . section 1032, subdivision (b), and are ‘entitled as a matter of right to recover costs’ unless another statute expressly provides otherwise.” (Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 606; see also, e.g., Crib Retaining Walls, Inc. v. NBS/Lowry, Inc., supra, 47 Cal.App.4th at p. 890.) By the same logic, prevailing party status is nondiscretionary under the third categorical definition, which applies when neither the plaintiff nor the defendant obtains any relief. (See, e.g., Chaparral Greens v. City of Chula Vista, supra, 50 Cal.App.4th at p. 1152; Childers v. Edwards, supra, 48 Cal.App.4th at p. 1549.) The same is also true with respect to the fourth definitional category of prevailing party, which specifies “a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that defendant.” (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4); see, e.g., Nelson v. Anderson (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 111, 128 [84 Cal.Rptr.2d 753] [because “MPG was a defendant against whom Nelson obtained no relief, MPG was the prevailing party”].) Generally speaking, under any of these three sets of circumstances, the defendant categorically qualifies as the prevailing party.

B. Section 1032, Subdivision (a)—Second Prong

The second prong of the statutory definition provides for situations not described in the first prong. That part of the statute reads: “When any party recovers other than monetary relief and in situations other than as specified, the ‘prevailing party’ shall be as determined by the court, and under those circumstances, the court, in its discretion, may allow costs or not and, if allowed may apportion costs between the parties on the same or adverse sides pursuant to rules adopted under Section 1034.” (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).)

The operation of this second prong has been described as follows: “Where the prevailing party is one not specified, . . . section 1032, subdivision (a)(4) permits the trial court to determine the prevailing party and then allow costs or not, or to apportion costs, in its discretion. The statute requires the trial court to determine which party is prevailing and then exercise its discretion in awarding costs.” (Texas Commerce Bank v. Garamendi (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 1234, 1248-1249 [34 Cal.Rptr.2d 155], fn. omitted; accord, Lincoln v. Schurgin (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 100, 105 [45 Cal.Rptr.2d 874].) The second prong of the statute thus “permits [a] ruling . . . ordering each side to pay its own costs, even [where] appellants were without question the prevailing parties”—having sought and obtained nonmonetary declaratory relief. (Texas Commerce Bank v. Garamendi, at p. 1249; cf., e.g., Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj (2004) 33 Cal.4th 73, 94 [14 Cal.Rptr.3d 67, 90 P3d 1223] [where homeowners association won declaratory and injunctive relief, “the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the Association was the prevailing party”].)

This prong of the statute thus calls for the trial court to exercise its discretion both in determining the prevailing party and in allowing, denying, or apportioning costs. It operates as an express statutory exception to the general rule that a prevailing party is entitled to costs as a matter of right. (§ 1032, subd. (b).)

III. Application to this Case

A. Review Standard

“On review of an award of attorney fees after trial, the normal standard of review is abuse of discretion. However, de novo review of such a trial court order is warranted where the determination of whether the criteria for an award of attorney fees and costs in this context have been satisfied amounts to statutory construction and a question of law.” (Carver v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 132, 142 [118 Cal.Rptr.2d 569]; accord, Baker-Hoey v. Lockheed Martin Corp. (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 592, 596 [3 Cal.Rptr.3d 593]; Acosta v. SI Corp. (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 1370, 1374 [29 Cal.Rptr.3d 306]; see also, e.g., Silver v. Boatwright Home Inspection, Inc. (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 443, 448-449 [118 Cal.Rptr.2d 475].) On the other hand, depending on the circumstances of the case, the prevailing party determination, the cost award, or both may be committed to the trial court’s discretion. (Silver v. Boatwright Home Inspection, Inc., at p. 449.) In such cases, we review the trial court’s determination for an abuse of discretion. (Ibid.)

B. Prevailing Party Determination

We first consider whether the nondiscretionary prong of section 1032 applies to any of the litigants. At issue is “whether the criteria for an award of attorney fees and costs in this context have been satisfied . . . .” (Carver v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 142.) That issue presents a question of law. (Ibid.)

We start with the first category described in the statute, which defines a prevailing party as one with a net monetary recovery. (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).)

1. Did Wakefield obtain a net monetary recovery?

Wakefield argues that he falls within this first category, having won a jury verdict of nearly $34,000 from Jeff Bohlin. The Bohlins disagree, arguing that Wakefield “did not obtain a net monetary recovery, because his award was smaller than the amount of his settlements with the other defendants.”

The parties’ competing contentions require us to consider the effect of the other defendants’ settlements. As we now explain, although Wakefield’s judgment may have been reduced to zero by operation of section 877, that circumstance does not affect the prevailing party determination under section 1032.

a. Effect of settlement on the judgment under section 877

Under section 877, a release “given in good faith before verdict or judgment to one or more of a number of tortfeasors claimed to be liable for the same tort ... [][].. . shall reduce the claims against the others in the amount stipulated by the release ... or in the amount of the consideration paid for it whichever is the greater.” Section 877 thus “requires that a judgment be reduced by amounts paid by settling joint tortfeasors.” (Jaramillo v. State of California (1978) 81 Cal.App.3d 968, 971 [146 Cal.Rptr. 823].) “Where a plaintiff’s settlement completely offsets the damages assessed against a nonsettling joint tortfeasor, it reduces the judgment to zero by operation of law.” (Syverson v. Heitmann (1985) 171 Cal.App.3d 106, 110 [214 Cal.Rptr. 581].)

“The purpose of this legislation is to provide for equitable sharing of damages among the parties at fault and to encourage settlement.” (Great Western Bank v. Converse Consultants, Inc. (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 609, 613 [68 Cal.Rptr.2d 224].) “In addition, the offset provided for in section 877 assures that a plaintiff will not be enriched unjustly by a double recovery, collecting part of his total claim from one joint tortfeasor and all of his claim from another.” (Reed v. Wilson (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 439, 444 [86 Cal.Rptr.2d 510].) But “a plaintiff does not get double recovery when obtaining costs from a remaining defendant, unless plaintiff’s compromise agreement with the joint tortfeasor covers costs of pursuing the action against the remaining defendant.” (Id. at p. 445.) Beyond promoting equitable sharing, encouraging settlement, and guarding against double recovery, the good faith settlement statutes embody “another important public policy: ‘ “the maximization of recovery to the plaintiff for the amount of . . . injury to the extent that negligence or fault of others has contributed to it.”. . . (Franklin Mint Co. v. Superior Court (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 1550, 1556-1557 [31 Cal.Rptr.3d 319].)

Here, although both parties refer to good faith settlements between Wakefield and the settling defendants, the appellate record does not include them. We nevertheless assume that the trial court found the realtor defendants to be joint tortfeasors with Jeff Bohlin with respect to Wakefield’s negligent misrepresentation claim. We likewise assume that the trial court offset the damages that Wakefield won on that claim, applying the $45,000 settlement from the realtor defendants against the $33,950 verdict from Jeff Bohlin, thereby bringing Wakefield’s net judgment to zero.

b. Effect of settlement on the prevailing party determination under section 1032

Assuming that a good faith settlement reduced Wakefield’s judgment to zero, that circumstance does not compel a finding that he failed to obtain a net monetary recovery. To the contrary, we conclude, Wakefield did obtain such a recovery from Jeff Bohlin.

(i) Current statutory language

In reaching that conclusion, we begin with the statutory language. (See, e.g., Pirkig v. Dennis (1989) 215 Cal.App.3d 1560, 1565 [264 Cal.Rptr. 494].) The relevant portion of the statute defines prevailing party to include “the party with a net monetary recovery.” (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).)

The first part of the pertinent statutory phrase—“net monetary”— comes into play in situations when parties on both sides of the litigation have damage claims against each other. Thus, when “plaintiff and defendant [have] competing monetary claims, then the party in whose favor the net amount is due qualifies as the prevailing party, the party with a net monetary recovery.” (Michell v. Olick, supra, 49 Cal.App.4th at p. 1198; accord, Biren v. Equality Emergency Medical Group, Inc. (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 125, 139 [125 Cal.Rptr.2d 325].) Thus, for example, where the defendants have dismissed their cross-complaint, leaving the plaintiff as “the only party seeking damages,” any award in the plaintiff’s favor qualifies as a net monetary recovery. (Michell v. Olick, at p. 1198.) This principle of setting off competing counterclaims to determine net recovery has long been the rule. More than 70 years ago, the California Supreme Court entertained cross-appeals “from a judgment establishing a balance due from the defendant [property owner], to the plaintiffs, . . . contractors under a building construction contract.” (Hansen v. Covell (1933) 218 Cal. 622, 624 [24 P.2d 772].) “During the course of the trial the owner paid the claims of mechanics who had filed liens . . . .” (Id. at p. 625.) For purposes of the cost award, the court netted the amounts due on either side of the litigation, saying: “The total of the lien claims plus the interest thereon . . . deducted from the amount found due to the plaintiffs from the defendant, still leaves a balance due to the plaintiffs, and this condition under the findings also disposes of the contention that the [plaintiff] contractors are not entitled to their costs in the trial court.” {Id. at pp. 632-633.)

The second part of the relevant statutory phrase is “recovery.” As generally understood, the term “recovery” is broad enough to encompass any damage award. (Cf. People v. Reis (1888) 76 Cal. 269, 279 [18 P. 309] [as used in former Pol. Code, § 3886, “recovery” is broadly construed, consistent with “its ordinary and popular meaning”].) “The words ‘recovery’ or ‘recovered’ have the common connotation of representing the entirety of a sum obtained by process and course of law which includes settlement . . . .” (Dunne & Gaston v. Keltner (1975) 50 Cal.App.3d 560, 564 [123 Cal.Rptr. 430] [broadly interpreting agreement between law firm and withdrawing attorney for recovery of fees].)

Thus, we conclude, the party with the net monetary recovery is determined by comparing the competing damage claims on both sides of the litigation. If both sides have claims, whichever party obtains the most money from the other prevails. If only one party has damage claims, any success in pressing those claims against the losing party results in a net award.

(ii) Comparison with predecessor statute

Our construction of the statutory language is bolstered by contrasting the present provision with the predecessor statute. “The current version of section 1032 is the product of a 1986 major revision of the statutes governing the recovery of costs. The legislation was sponsored by the California Judges Association. (Sen. Rules Com. [Off. of Sen. Floor Analyses], 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 654 (1985-1986 Reg. Sess.) as amended July 8, 1986, pp. 1-3.) Senate Bill No. 654, as enacted, repealed former section 1032 and enacted a new section 1032 in its place.” (Acosta v. SI Corp., supra, 129 Cal.App.4th at p. 1375.) Nothing in the new statute or its history suggests a legislative intent to constrict the class of prevailing parties, however. (Ibid.; see also Pirkig v. Dennis, supra, 215 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1565-1566.)

Prior to 1986, the statute allowed costs as a matter of right to a “plaintiff upon a judgment in his favor.” (Former § 1032, subd. (a), italics added.) Under the former statute, and “even without competing monetary claims, a plaintiff who received only partial recovery was still found to be the sole successful party entitled to costs.” (Michell v. Olick, supra, 49 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1198-1199.) Furthermore, despite the explicit reference in the former statute to a “judgment,” courts had no difficulty awarding costs to plaintiffs who won a verdict that was later offset by compensation from other parties. (See, e.g., Ferraro v. Southern Cal. Gas Co. (1980) 102 Cal.App.3d 33, 52 [162 Cal.Rptr. 238] (Ferraro); Syverson v. Heitmann, supra, 171 Cal.App.3d at p. 113.) In Ferraro, for example, the court rejected the argument “that appellants, while they did receive a verdict in their favor, did not receive a favorable net judgment.” (Ferraro, at p. 52.) As the Ferraro court explained: “To consider appellants as not having received a ‘favorable judgment’ would exalt form over substance. They certainly were the prevailing party in the lawsuit and the fact that the [defendant] did not have to actually pay them any damages was due not to any deficiency in their case, but due to circumstances not directly stemming from the issues regarding liability as litigated between the parties. Disallowance of an award of costs to appellants under these circumstances could only be based upon a hypertechnical construction of the words of section 1032 . . . unsupported by case law.” (Id. at pp. 52-53.)

The current language of the statute, which employs the phrase “net monetary recovery” rather than the term “judgment,” makes it even easier to distinguish between a jury verdict awarding net damages to a litigant (a net recovery) and the ultimate judgment, which necessarily comes later and may reflect offsets from other parties’ contributions. (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).) To summarize, as used in section 1032, subdivision (a)(4), “net monetary recovery” is determined after netting out any competing damage claims as between the plaintiff and the defendant, without regard to settlements or other contributions from unrelated defendants or from other parties.

(iii) Case authority

Our construction of the statutory language is borne out by cases decided both before and after section 1032 was rewritten in 1986. (See, e.g., Zamora v. Shell Oil Co. (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 204, 215 [63 Cal.Rptr.2d 762] [the cases decided before 1986 “continue to have precedential effect”].)

As courts have repeatedly emphasized: “Settlements by other parties and corresponding offsets do not affect a prevailing party determination.” (Great Western Bank v. Converse Consultants, Inc., supra, 58 Cal.App.4th 613, citing Zamora v. Shell Oil Co., supra, 55 Cal.App.4th at pp. 213-215; Pirkig v. Dennis, supra, 215 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1565-1568; Syverson v. Heitmann, supra, 171 Cal.App.3d at pp. 112-114; see also Ferraro, supra, 102 Cal.App.3d at pp. 52-53.) The Zamora case demonstrates the operation of that principle: “Had some of Western’s codefendants not settled with the homeowners prior to or during trial, judgments would have been entered against Western in the aggregate amount of 20 percent of $222,282. Under these circumstances, Western cannot proclaim itself to be the section 1032 prevailing party.” (Zamora v. Shell Oil Co., at p. 215.)

We agree with the foregoing statements of law, which necessarily follow from our interpretation of the statutory phrase “net monetary recovery.”⁵ We therefore hold as follows: When a jury verdict results in a damage award for one litigant, that party has obtained a net monetary recovery for purposes of the prevailing party determination under section 1032, even if the judgment is later reduced to zero as a result of offsets for good faith settlements under section 877.

c. Conclusion: Categorically, Wakefield is the prevailing party, entitled to costs as a matter of right

In this case, Wakefield won a verdict against Jeff Bohlin. Neither Jeff Bohlin nor Charlotte Bohlin had any claims against Wakefield. Thus, this is not a situation where both sides were victorious on competing claims. (Cf. Lincoln v. Schurgin, supra, 39 Cal.App.4th at p. 105 [where plaintiffs obtained a money judgment, and defendants obtained declaratory relief on their cross-complaint, the second statutory prong applied and the trial court had discretion to determine the prevailing party].) Moreover, the fact that Wakefield succeeded on only one cause of action does not operate to deprive him of his status as prevailing party. (Michell v. Click, supra, 49 Cal.App.4th at p. 1199; see also id. at pp. 1200-1201.) Nor is this a case where Wakefield’s “net recoveries ... were actually Pyrrhic victories.” (Sears, supra, 60 Cal.App.4th at p. 1155.)

For all of these reasons, under the nondiscretionary statutory definition, Wakefield is the prevailing party. We therefore reject the Bohlins’ contrary assertion that “the trial court had the authority to decide whether [Wakefield] or Jeff Bohlin had prevailed.”

2. Was Jeff Bohlin a prevailing party?

Relying on the second prong of the statute, the Bohlins assert that the trial court had discretion to determine that Jeff Bohlin prevailed and that Wakefield did not. As just explained, however, that assertion must be rejected. Wakefield falls within the first prong of the statute; the trial court thus was required to find that Wakefield prevailed. (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).) That said, there is no basis on which Jeff Bohlin can be deemed to qualify as a prevailing party. To the contrary, Jeff Bohlin lost at trial, and Wakefield recovered against him. In short, Jeff Bohlin is not a prevailing party under section 1032.

3. Was Charlotte Bohlin a prevailing party?

According to the Bohlins, this question must be answered in the affirmative. As they point out, it is undisputed that the jury entered verdicts in favor of Charlotte Bohlin on the intentional and negligent misrepresentation causes of action. Thus, they argue, Charlotte Bohlin categorically qualifies as a prevailing party under the first prong of the statute, fourth category, being “a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that defendant.” (§ 1032, subd. (a)(4).)

The argument advanced by the Bohlins derives from the language of the statute, and we acknowledge its validity—as a general principle. But in this case, as we explain, an exception overrides that general rule.

a. The general rule

The general rule under this portion of section 1032, as expressed by Witkin, is as follows: “One defendant who prevails may recover costs even though the plaintiff recovers against another defendant.” (7 Witkin, Cal. Procedure, supra, Judgment, § 94, p. 625.)

b. Exception for defendants with a unity of interest

As Witkin further observes, however, there is an exception: “In those instances in which several defendants are united in interest or join in making the same defenses in the same answer, the prevailing defendant definition in . . . 1032(a)(4) does not apply and the defendant against whom the plaintiff does not recover is not entitled to costs as a matter of right. Instead the allowance or disallowance of costs to the prevailing defendant lies within the sound discretion of the court, as does the apportionment of those costs, if allowed.” (7 Witkin, Cal. Procedure, supra, Judgment, § 94, pp. 625-626, italics added.) Put another way, “where one of multiple, jointly represented defendants presenting a unified defense prevails in an action, the trial court has discretion to award or deny costs to that party.” (Textron Financial Corp. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 1061, 1075 [13 Cal.Rptr.3d 586].)

The unity of interest principle originally was a creature of statute. (See, e.g., Smith v. Circle P. Ranch Co. (1978) 87 Cal.App.3d 267 [150 Cal.Rptr. 828], quoting former § 1032.)⁶ Its application was described in the Smith case as follows: “In those instances in which several defendants are united in interest and/or join in making the same defenses in the same answer, the allowance or disallowance of an award to prevailing defendants lies within the sound discretion of the trial court.” (Smith v. Circle P. Ranch Co., supra, 87 Cal.App.3d at p. 272.) Although the statutory language has changed, the underlying precept enunciated in Smith continues to apply. (See, e.g., Textron Financial Corp. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 118 Cal.App.4th at p. 1075; Slavin v. Fink (1994) 25 Cal.App.4th 722, 726 [30 Cal.Rptr.2d 750].)

Factually, the unity of interest principle has been applied where, for example, the losing defendant was a company associated with the winning defendants. (Smith v. Circle P. Ranch Co., supra, 87 Cal.App.3d 267.) It has also been applied where the losing defendant was a property owner and the winning defendant was her agent. (Slavin v. Fink, supra, 25 Cal.App.4th 722.) In this case, where the defendants were husband and wife, sued as a result of their joint sale of a home, their unity of interest appears equally strong, if not stronger.

c. Conclusion: Charlotte Bohlin does not categorically qualify as a prevailing party

According to the undisputed facts, Jeff Bohlin (the losing defendant) and Charlotte Bohlin (the winning defendant) were represented by the same attorney, filed a joint answer to Wakefield’s complaint, and joined in the same motions and responses. The Bohlins thus share a unity of interest. For that reason, the categorical prevailing party definition “does not apply” to Charlotte Bohlin. (7 Witkin, Cal. Procedure, supra, Judgment, § 94, pp. 625-626.)

4. The trial court erred in making its prevailing party determinations

As explained above, Wakefield categorically qualifies as a prevailing party as a matter of law under the first prong of section 1032, subdivision (a)(4). The trial court thus erred in finding that he was not. The trial court likewise erred in finding that Jeff Bohlin was a prevailing party. As to Charlotte Bohlin, she does not categorically qualify as a prevailing party with statutory entitlement to an award of costs.

C. Allowance of Costs

Given the trial court’s erroneous prevailing party determinations, it is not clear that the court understood the nature and extent of its discretion in awarding costs. Under the first prong of section 1032, subdivision (a)(4), the trial court lacks discretion to deny litigation costs to a litigant who categorically qualifies as the prevailing party. Plaintiff Ronald Wakefield falls within this prong. Under the second prong of the statute, the trial court retains discretion to award, deny, or allocate costs. Defendant Charlotte Bohlin falls within this prong. In exercising its discretion under the second prong, the trial court necessarily is guided by applicable legal principles.

A key consideration in the court’s exercise of discretion is the necessity for the claimed costs. (See, e.g., Fennessy v. DeLeuw-Cather Corp. (1990) 218 Cal.App.3d 1192, 1194-1195 [267 Cal.Rptr. 772] [prevailing defendant was not entitled to all of the costs that he claimed “because they had been incurred collectively by all the defendants”].) As explained in the Judges Benchbook: “A prevailing party is entitled to recover only those costs actually incurred by that party or on that party’s behalf in prosecuting or defending the action. When a prevailing party has incurred costs jointly with one or more other parties who are not prevailing parties for purposes of an award of costs, the judge must apportion the costs between the parties.” (Cal. Judges Benchbook: Civil Proceedings—Trial (CJER 1997) Judgment, § 16.40, p. 686; see also, e.g., Heppler v. J.M. Peters Co. (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 1265, 1297 [87 Cal.Rptr.2d 497] [in indemnity action, where plaintiffs won against three of four remaining defendants, “the trial court’s failure to apportion the attorney fees was an abuse of discretion”].)

A related factor is fairness, as explained in Slavin v. Fink, supra, 25 Cal.App.4th 722. In that case, the plaintiff contractor prevailed at trial against the property owner, defendant Borinstein, but he lost against her agent, defendant Fink. Although Fink was a prevailing defendant, the trial court taxed his costs, explaining: “ ‘Fink has claimed the same costs as could have been claimed by [Borinstein], had she been a prevailing party in the case. . . . Borinstein was the “main” defendant in the case. Fink acted as her disclosed agent. . . . Fink became entitled to a judgment in his favor by the mere failure of [plainitiff] Slavin to present any evidence in support of a judgment against him personally.’ ” (Id. at pp. 724—725.) The trial court thus concluded that “an allocation must be made between the costs Borinstein would have been entitled to had she prevailed, and those necessarily incurred by Fink.” (Id. at p. 725.) The trial court made a discretionary allocation, awarding Fink the cost of his appearance fee, plus 5 percent of the remaining costs claimed by him. (Ibid.) That award was affirmed on appeal. (Id. at p. 727.) As the appellate court stated: “Under the circumstances, it would have been unjust to allow appellant to impose upon respondent all costs incurred which benefitted both appellant and Borinstein.” (Id. at p. 726, italics added.) We believe that the same is true here.

Yet another pertinent consideration is whether the parties achieved their principal litigation objectives. (Cf. Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 94.) Here, Wakefield won recovery—by settlement or verdict—from all defendants except Charlotte Bohlin, albeit not on every cause of action and not in the amount he sought. A plaintiff’s litigation objectives may be achieved through settlement with some defendants, even where others escape liability; at the same time, of course, such settlement also may advance the objectives of nonsettling defendants, like the Bohlins, by reducing their liability. (See Silver v. Boatwright Home Inspection, Inc., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 452.)

Beyond necessity, fairness, and litigation success, other factors may be relevant here. (See, e.g., Cal. Judges Benchbook: Civil Proceedings—Trial, supra, Judgment, § 16.40, p. 686.) To the extent that such factors apply, the trial court may consider them in the exercise of its discretion in apportioning costs.

D. Allowance of Attorney Fees

On appeal, neither party disputes the propriety of awarding attorney fees as an element of costs. To the contrary, both sides maintain entitlement to a fee award, notwithstanding the fact that the case was tried exclusively on Wakefield’s noncontract claims.

1. Statutory basis for an attorney fee award

Because there was no action on the contract in this case, Civil Code section 1717 has no operation here. (See, e.g., Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 615, 619; Childers v. Edwards, supra, 48 Cal.App.4th at p. 1548.) The prevailing party determination instead depends on the application of section 1032, as complemented by sections 1021 and 1033.5. (Childers v. Edwards, at p. 1549.)

2. Entitlement to fees as prevailing party

a. Section 1032

We start with section 1032 in determining the prevailing party for purposes of an award of attorney fees. More specifically, we look to the statute’s straightforward definition of prevailing party as a litigant with a net monetary recovery. For all the reasons explained above, Wakefield falls squarely within that definition.

Here, no countervailing statutory provision casts doubt on that definition. In this case, whether “prevailing party” is defined under Civil Code section 1717 or under section 1032, it means the same thing. (Cf. Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 608-609 [discussing the differing definitions of “prevailing party” under the two statutes, where the litigation ends by voluntary dismissal].) Thus, this is not a case where “the term has more than one technical meaning.” (Id. at p. 609.) Hence, this is not a case where “the court must look to the parties’ contractual attorney’s fees provision to determine if it defines who is a prevailing party . . . .” (Silver v. Boatwright Home Inspection, Inc., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 452.) That being so, for purposes of analysis under section 1032, we need not separately determine prevailing party status under the real estate purchase contract.

Section 1032 itself does not specifically refer to attorney fees, however. Instead, the allowance of fees is governed by sections 1021 and 1033.5. We therefore consider the operation of those provisions.

b. Sections 1021 and 1033.5

As relevant here, sections 1021 and 1033.5 tether the right to recover attorney fees to the parties’ contract. Under those provisions, “attorney fees incurred in prosecuting or defending an action may be recovered as costs only when they are otherwise authorized by statute or by the parties’ agreement.” (Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 607, fn. 4.) In this case, “the party entitled to costs has a legal basis, independent of the cost statutes and grounded in an agreement, . . . upon which to claim recovery of attorney fees.” (Id. at p. 606.) That agreement—the parties’ real estate purchase contract—provides that “the prevailing Buyer or Seller shall be awarded reasonable attorneys’ fees and court . . . costs in addition to any other judgment or award.”

Since neither party presented any extrinsic evidence to shed light on the contract’s meaning, determining who prevailed under the contractual language presents a question of law. “Where extrinsic evidence has not been offered to interpret the [contract], and the facts are not in dispute, such review is conducted de novo.” (Carver v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 142.) And as our high court instructs, “in the absence of evidence to the contrary, [we assume] that the parties understood the term [prevailing party] in its ordinary or popular sense.” (Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 609, fn. omitted.)

Using the term “prevailing” in its ordinary sense, Wakefield is the prevailing buyer here. His “objective in bringing this litigation was to obtain the relief requested in the complaint. The objective of the seller defendants in this litigation was to prevent [him] from obtaining that relief.” (Santisas, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 609.) At the end of the day, Wakefield obtained monetary relief, and the Bohlins did not prevent him from doing so. “Plaintifff] obtained [his] litigation objective, recovery of damages, through settlements with defendants other than [the Bohlins].” (Silver v. Boatwright Home Inspection, Inc., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 446.) In addition, Wakefield won a jury verdict from Jeff Bohlin. Thus, even “if we consider only the rules of contract law, [Wakefield is] entitled to recover the amounts [he] incurred as attorney fees in [prosecuting] all claims asserted in this action.” (Santisas, at p. 609.)

Conversely, Charlotte Bohlin is not the prevailing seller. In the first place, the contract plainly contemplates that only one party will prevail—either the buyer (Wakefield) or the seller (both Jeff and Charlotte Bohlin together). Since Wakefield is the prevailing buyer under the contractual language, Charlotte Bohlin cannot be. This conclusion is consistent with the determination that the Bohlins are united in interest in this litigation, whether that concept is tested under the statute or under the contractual language.

3. Effect of the mediation clause

In light of our determination that Wakefield is the prevailing party, we need not reach the issue that he raises concerning the Bohlins’ asserted failure to mediate, as required by the real estate purchase agreement as a condition of a fee award. (Cf. Frei v. Davey (2004) 124 Cal.App.4th 1506, 1512 [22 Cal.Rptr.3d 429] [sellers who “refused the [buyers’] request for mediation . . . may not recover their attorney fees, despite the fact they were the prevailing parties in the litigation”].)

4. Amount of the attorney fee award

It is well settled that “the trial court has broad authority to determine the amount of a reasonable fee.” (PLCM Group, Inc. v. Drexler (2000) 22 Cal.4th 1084, 1095 [95 Cal.Rptr.2d 198, 997 P.2d 511] [contract action]; see also, e.g., Carver v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 142.) On remand, the trial court shall exercise its discretion in setting the amount of Wakefield’s fees.

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS

Under the first prong of section 1032, subdivision (a)(4), plaintiff Ronald Wakefield categorically qualifies as the prevailing party. He obtained a net monetary recovery, which entitles him to an award of litigation costs as a matter of right. Sections 1021 and 1033.5, combined with the parties’ contract, provide that Wakefield’s costs include reasonable attorney fees.

By contrast, defendant Charlotte Bohlin is governed by the second prong of the statute. Although the jury exonerated her, she is not entitled to costs as a matter of right because of her unity of interest with Jeff Bohlin. Any cost award in her favor is discretionary with the trial court and subject to apportionment. Furthermore, under the contract, she is not entitled to attorney fees.

DISPOSITION

We reverse the postjudgment order of November 15, 2004. We remand the matter to the trial court with the following instructions: (1) the court shall find that Ronald Wakefield is the prevailing party and it shall award him costs, including attorney fees in an amount within its discretion; (2) the court shall exercise its discretion to award or deny costs to Charlotte Bohlin, and, if awarded, to apportion any costs she incurred jointly with Jeff Bohlin. The court shall not award attorney fees to Charlotte Bohlin.

Wakefield shall be entitled to his costs on appeal.

Elia, Acting P. J., concurred.

1 As requested by the Bohlins, we have taken judicial notice of the clerk’s transcript in the parties’ first appeal, Wakefield v. Bohlin (Feb. 8, 2006, H028008) (nonpub. opn.).

2 Further unspecified statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.

3 Paragraph 17C of the parties’ agreement provides: “In event of any legal action, arbitration, or other proceeding between Buyer and Seller arising out of this Contract, the prevailing Buyer or Seller shall be awarded reasonable attorneys’ fees and court or arbitration costs in addition to any other judgment or award.”

4 Section 1021 provides as follows: “Except as attorney’s fees are specifically provided for by statute, the measure and mode of compensation of attorneys and counselors at law is left to the agreement, express or implied, of the parties; but parties to actions or proceedings are entitled to their costs ... as hereinafter provided.”

Section 1033.5 provides in pertinent part as follows: “(a) The following items are allowable as costs under Section 1032: [][]... H] (10) Attorney fees, when authorized by any of the following: [f] (A) Contract, [f] (B) Statute. []□ (C) Law.”

5 The Pirkig case appears to conflate the concepts of net monetary recovery and net judgment, as reflected in this passage: “The only reason respondents failed to obtain a net monetary recovery [from the remaining defendant, the realtor] at the second trial was because respondents settled before trial with the sellers for a greater amount than awarded by the second court.” (Pirkig v. Dennis, supra, 215 Cal.App.3d at p. 1566.) To the extent that Pirkig can be read as equating net monetary recovery with judgment after offsets, we disagree with its conclusion.

6 Former section 1032 allowed costs as a matter of right to “ ‘the defendant upon a judgment in his favor .. . [and] when there are several defendants in any action ... not united in interest, and making separate defenses by separate answers, and plaintiff fails to recover judgment against all, the court must award costs to such of the defendants as have judgment in their favor.’ ” (Former § 1032, as quoted in Smith v. Circle P. Ranch Co., supra, 87 Cal.App.3d at p. 271, italics omitted.)