Gerber v. P & L Finance Co. , 919 N.W.2d 116 ( 2018 )

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
11/02/2018 09:11 AM CDT
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
Elisa Gerber, appellant, v. P & L Finance Co., Inc.,
a Nebraska corporation, doing business as
Elisa Ilana, et al., appellees.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed November 2, 2018. No. S-17-710.
1. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation is a question of
law, which an appellate court resolves independently of the trial court.
2. Pleadings. When the title of a filing does not reflect its substance, it is
proper for a court to treat a pleading or motion based on its substance
rather than its title.
3. Attorney Fees: Statutes: Words and Phrases: Appeal and Error.
“Proceeding” as used in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-2,114 (Supp. 2017)
includes appeals, and therefore, the statute applies to indemnification for
attorney fees incurred in an appeal.
4. ____: ____: ____: ____. Because Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-2,114 (Supp.
2017) provides that a director may apply for indemnification for attor-
ney fees “to the court conducting the proceeding” and because “proceed-
ing” includes an appeal, § 21-2,114 provides that a director may apply
to an appellate court for indemnification related to an appeal that took
place in the appellate court.
Petition for further review from the Court of Appeals,
Moore, Chief Judge, and Pirtle and A rterburn, Judges, on
appeal thereto from the District Court for Douglas County,
Peter C. Bataillon, Judge. Judgment of Court of Appeals
reversed, and cause remanded with directions.
Brian E. Jorde and Christian T. Williams, of Domina Law
Group, P.C., L.L.O., for appellant.
Edward D. Hotz, of Pansing, Hogan, Ernst & Bachman,
L.L.P, for appellees P & L Finance Co. and Laurie Langdon.
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
James Polack, P.C., L.L.O., for appellee Paul Gerber.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Miller-Lerman, J.
NATURE OF CASE
We granted appellee Paul Gerber’s petition for further review
of the order of the Nebraska Court of Appeals which overruled
his motion in which he sought to recover attorney fees from
coappellee P & L Finance Co., Inc. (P & L). Paul styled his
pleading as a “Motion for Attorney Fees.” However, in the
filing, Paul sought an order requiring P & L, of which he is a
director, to indemnify him for attorney fees he incurred in the
appeal of a case where he was made a party because he was a
director. We reverse the order of the Court of Appeals which
denied Paul’s request, and we remand the cause to the Court of
Appeals with directions to consider the filing as an application
for an order for indemnification rather than as a motion for an
award of attorney fees.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Elisa Gerber filed an action in the district court for Douglas
County against P & L seeking, inter alia, issuance of a stock
certificate. She also named as defendants Laurie Langdon and
Paul, who are directors of P & L. The defendants moved for
summary judgment. The district court determined that Elisa’s
claim for issuance of a stock certificate was barred by the
statute of limitations and, consequently, that her other claims
were also barred. The district court granted summary judg-
ment in favor of the defendants. Elisa appealed to the Court of
Appeals. On April 24, 2018, the Court of Appeals affirmed the
district court’s grant of summary judgment in a memorandum
opinion. Gerber v. P & L Finance Co., No. A-17-710, 2018
WL 1920600 (Neb. App. Apr. 24, 2018) (selected for posting
to court website).
After the Court of Appeals filed its decision, Paul filed a
motion titled “Motion for Attorney Fees.” Paul, an appellee
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
in the appeal, did not seek an award of attorney fees from the
appellant, Elisa. Instead, Paul requested an order requiring
another appellee, P & L, to pay his attorney fees. In his motion,
Paul made reference to Neb. Ct. R. § 2-109(F) (rev. 2014)
(Rule 2-109(F)), which provides in part:
Any person who claims the right under the law or a uni-
form course of practice to an attorney fee in a civil case
appealed to the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals
must file a motion for the allowance of such a fee sup-
ported by an affidavit which justifies the amount of the
fee sought for services in the appellate court.
The affidavit of his attorney setting forth attorney fees in the
amount of $ 5,381.25 incurred in connection with the appeal
to the Court of Appeals was attached to the motion. Paul also
referred to P & L’s articles of incorporation.
Paul alleged in the motion that he was made a party to
this case based solely on his status as an officer, director,
and shareholder of P & L. He further alleged that P & L’s
“Articles of Incorporation” provided that P & L indemnify him
for attorney fees he incurred in the appeal of this action. Paul
cited provisions of the Nebraska Model Business Corporation
Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 21-201 through 21-2,232 (Cum. Supp.
2016 & Supp. 2017), which, he asserted, require that he be
indemnified and authorized the Court of Appeals to order such
indemnification.
P & L and Langdon objected and noted that Rule 2-109(F)
provides for an award of attorney fees when a party is enti-
tled to such “under the law or a uniform course of prac-
tice.” Supplemental brief for appellees P & L and Langdon in
response to petition for further review at 1. P & L and Langdon
argued that under the law and uniform course of practice in
Nebraska, one can recover attorney fees only from an adverse
party, not from a “co-party.” Id. at 2. They asserted that Paul’s
request should be denied, because Paul was seeking attorney
fees from a coparty and “[t]here is no law or uniform course of
procedure which recognizes the recovery of attorney fees from
a non-adverse party . . . .” Id. at 1.
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
The Court of Appeals denied Paul’s request. In a minute
entry, the Court of Appeals stated, “Appellee, Paul Gerber’s
motion for attorney fees is denied. There is no law or uniform
course of practice in the appellate courts which recognizes
the recovery of attorney fees from a non-adverse party. See
[Rule] 2-109(F).”
We granted Paul’s petition for further review of the order of
the Court of Appeals which overruled his motion.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
Paul generally claims that the Court of Appeals erred when
it overruled his request for attorney fees.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] Statutory interpretation is a question of law, which an
appellate court resolves independently of the trial court. In re
Guardianship of S.T., 300 Neb. 72, 912 N.W.2d 262 (2018).
ANALYSIS
Paul claims that the Court of Appeals erred when it over-
ruled his request for attorney fees. We determine that, although
the request was fashioned as a motion for an award of attor-
ney fees pursuant to Rule 2-109(F), the substance of Paul’s
filing was a request for an order for indemnification from
P & L under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act.
We further determine that under the relevant statute, a director
may apply to an appellate court which conducted the proceed-
ing for an order for indemnification. We therefore reverse the
order which overruled Paul’s request and remand this appeal to
the Court of Appeals with directions to consider Paul’s filing
consistent with § 21-2,114 as an application for an order for
indemnification rather than a motion for an award of attor-
ney fees.
Paul contends that the Court of Appeals erroneously read
a “‘non-adverse party’ requirement” into Rule 2-109(F) and
erred when it stated that there was “no law” that would allow
recovery in the Nebraska appellate courts of attorney fees
from a nonadverse party. He asserts that the Nebraska Model
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
Business Corporation Act is the law that authorizes recovery
of attorney fees in this case. In response, P & L and Langdon
contend that Rule 2-109(F) controls and allows attorney fees
only when a prevailing party is seeking an award of attorney
fees from an adverse party. Although our reasoning differs
somewhat, we agree with Paul that the Court of Appeals may
determine whether he is entitled to indemnification for attorney
fees in this appeal.
[2] Our review of the proceedings shows that certain par-
ties and the Court of Appeals focused on the form of Paul’s
request but failed to consider its substance. As noted, Paul
fashioned the filing as a motion for an award of attorney
fees; he titled it as a “Motion for Attorney Fees” and stated
that it was filed pursuant to Rule 2-109(F). But, given the
content of the motion, we read the substance of his filing
as an application for an order of indemnification under the
Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. We have indicated
that when the title of a filing does not reflect its substance,
it is proper for a court to treat a pleading or motion based
on its substance rather than its title. See Linda N. v. William
N., 289 Neb. 607, 856 N.W.2d 436 (2014) (stating that it is
proper for court to look at substance of petitioner’s actual
request, instead of simply title of petition); State v. Loyd,
269 Neb. 762, 696 N.W.2d 860 (2005) (stating that determi-
nation as to how motion should be regarded depends upon
substance of motion, not its title). See, also, Dugan v. State,
297 Neb. 444, 900 N.W.2d 528 (2017) (stating how motion
should be regarded for purposes of determining whether its
denial is final order depends upon substance of motion and
not its title).
The relief Paul sought was not per se an award of attorney
fees under Rule 2-109(F), which, when allowed, is typically
granted to a prevailing party and against an adverse party.
Paul and P & L differ in this appeal as to whether attorney
fees may be awarded against a nonadverse party under Rule
2-109(F). However, for purposes of this appeal, we need
not resolve this disagreement, because we do not read the
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
s­ ubstance of Paul’s filing as an ordinary request for an award
of attorney fees.
Instead, the substance of Paul’s filing shows that as a direc-
tor, he is seeking indemnification from P & L for attorney fees
he incurred in this appeal as authorized by the Nebraska Model
Business Corporation Act. In particular, Paul cites § 21-2,114,
which provides in part:
(a) A director who is a party to a proceeding because he
or she is a director may apply for indemnification or an
advance for expenses to the court conducting the proceed-
ing or to another court of competent jurisdiction. After
receipt of an application and after giving any notice it
considers necessary, the court shall:
(1) Order indemnification if the court determines that
the director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under
section 21-2,112;
(2) Order indemnification or advance for expenses if
the court determines that the director is entitled to indem-
nification or advance for expenses pursuant to a provision
authorized by subsection (a) of section 21-2,118; or
(3) Order indemnification or advance for expenses if
the court determines, in view of all the relevant circum-
stances, that it is fair and reasonable[.]
The statutes mentioned in § 21-2,114 set forth circumstances
in which indemnification would be mandatory or permissible.
Section 21-2,112 provides:
A corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense
of any proceeding to which the director was a party
because he or she was a director of the corporation
against expenses incurred by the director in connection
with the proceeding.
Section 21-2,118(a) provides in part:
A corporation may, by a provision in its articles of
incorporation or bylaws or in a resolution adopted or a
contract approved by its board of directors or sharehold-
ers, obligate itself in advance of the act or omission
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
giving rise to a proceeding to provide indemnification
in accordance with section 21-2,111 or advance funds to
pay for or reimburse expenses in accordance with sec-
tion 21-2,113.
Referring to such statutory authority, Paul alleged that he
was made a party to this case and to this appeal based on his
status as an officer, director, and shareholder of P & L and
that P & L’s articles of incorporation require indemnification
of directors. Paul referred, inter alia, to an exhibit of P & L’s
articles of incorporation and attached his attorney’s affidavit
and billing for services related to the appeal.
Based on the substance of Paul’s filing, we determine that
the filing was an application under § 21-2,114 for an order
of indemnification against P & L. Although the filing was
fashioned as a motion for an award of attorney fees under
Rule 2-109(F), the Court of Appeals should have considered
Paul’s request based on its substance. Having determined that
the substance of Paul’s filing was an application by a direc-
tor for an order of indemnification under § 21-2,114, we next
consider whether an application of this sort may properly
be made to the appellate court in which the attorney fees
were incurred.
Section 21-2,114 provides in relevant part that one “who is
a party to a proceeding” based on his or her status as a direc-
tor may apply for indemnification “to the court conducting
the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction.”
Section 21-2,110 sets forth definitions applicable to § 21-2,114
and related statutes, and § 21-2,110(6) provides, “Proceeding
means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitra-
tive, or investigative and whether formal or informal.” Section
21-2,110 is based on § 8.50 of the Model Business Corporation
Act. See 2 Model Business Corporation Act Ann. § 8.50 (3d
ed. 2002). With regard to the definition of “proceeding,” the
official comment to the model act states as follows:
The broad definition of “proceeding” ensures that the
benefits of this subchapter will be available to directors
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
301 Nebraska R eports
GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
in new and unexpected, as well as traditional, types
of litigation or other adversarial matters, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative. It also includes
arbitration and other dispute resolution proceedings,
lawsuit appeals and petitions to review administrative
actions.
ABA Committee on Corporate Laws, Changes in the Model
Business Corporation Act—Amendments Pertaining to
Indemnification and Advance for Expenses, 49 Bus. Law. 741,
755-56 (1994) (emphasis supplied).
[3,4] We read “proceeding” as used in § 21-2,114 to include
appeals, and therefore, the statute applies to indemnification
for attorney fees incurred in an appeal. Furthermore, because
§ 21-2,114 provides that a director may apply for indemnifi-
cation “to the court conducting the proceeding” and because
“proceeding” includes an appeal, we read § 21-2,114 as provid-
ing that a director may apply to an appellate court for indem-
nification related to an appeal that took place in the appellate
court. Based on this reading of § 21-2,114, we determine that
in the present case, Paul properly sought indemnification for
attorney fees incurred in the appeal to the Court of Appeals and
that the Court of Appeals was a court to which he could apply
for an order for indemnification.
As noted, § 21-2,114 provides that a director may apply to
the “court conducting the proceeding,” as well as “to another
court of competent jurisdiction.” Referring to this statutory
provision, P & L and Langdon contend that Paul should have
applied to the district court rather than the Court of Appeals
for an indemnification order. We do not agree. We recognize
that there are circumstances in which an appellate court might
not be the best forum for deciding an application for indem-
nification. We are aware of cases in which, for example, an
issue such as whether a director was sued in his or her capacity
as a director was a fact issue that needed to be resolved by a
trial court, either as a counterclaim within the action or as a
separate action. See, Witco Corp. v. Beekhuis, 38 F.3d 682 (3d
Cir. 1994); Heffernan v. Pacific Dunlop GNB Corp., 965 F.2d
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GERBER v. P & L FINANCE CO.
Cite as 301 Neb. 463
369 (7th Cir. 1992); First American Corp. v. Al-Nahyan, 17 F.
Supp. 2d 10 (D.D.C. 1998); Battenfeld of America Holding Co.
v. Baird, Kurtz & Dobson, 1999 WL 1096047 (D. Kan. Nov. 8,
1999) (unpublished memorandum and order).
But in the present case, in its order granting summary judg-
ment, the district court found without challenge on appeal that
it was “undisputed” that Paul was a director of P & L and the
district court also granted Paul’s claim for indemnification
for fees incurred at the district court level without objection.
At oral argument, the only issue that P & L identified as in
need of resolution was the reasonableness of the appellate-
related fee for which Paul requested indemnification. We see
no need to refer this request for indemnification to the district
court. Appellate courts can, and often do, decide whether fee
requests for services performed in appeals before them are
reasonable. Therefore, there is no apparent reason that the
Court of Appeals could not determine Paul’s application in this
appeal consistent with § 21-2,114(a).
CONCLUSION
In this case, Paul was a party because he was a director.
We conclude that Paul’s request for attorney fees was, in sub-
stance, an application under § 21-2,114 for an order of indem-
nification from P & L. We further conclude that because the
Court of Appeals was the court conducting the proceedings,
such application for indemnification was properly filed in the
Court of Appeals, and that the appellate court should have con-
sidered the filing as such. We reverse the order of the Court of
Appeals which overruled Paul’s “Motion for Attorney Fees.”
We remand the cause to the Court of Appeals with directions to
consider Paul’s filing consistent with § 21-2,114 as an applica-
tion for an order of indemnification against P & L.
R eversed and remanded with directions.