Day v. Idaho Transportation Department

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 48898
BENNETT G. DAY, also known as BEN DAY, )
individually, and as TRUSTEE OF TRUST B )
OF THE DONALD M. DAY AND ) Boise, April 2023 Term
MARJORIE D. DAY FAMILY TRUST; )
JOHN F. DAY; DAN E. DAY; THE ERNEST ) Opinion filed: August 14, 2023
AND LOIS DAY LIVING TRUST; )
HOLCOMB ROAD HOLDINGS, LLC, an ) Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk
Idaho limited liability company; DONNA )
DAY JACOBS; and DAVID R. DAY, )
)
Plaintiffs-Appellants-Cross Respondents, )
)
v. )
)
IDAHO TRANSPORTATION )
DEPARTMENT, )
)
Defendant-Respondent-Cross Appellant. )
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Idaho,
Ada County. Samuel A. Hoagland, District Judge.
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Parsons, Behle & Latimer, Boise, for Appellants-Cross Respondents. Jason Mau
argued.
Raúl R. Labrador, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, and Holland & Hart, LLP, Boise,
for Respondent-Cross Appellant Idaho Transportation Department. Mary York
argued.
_______________________________________________
MOELLER, Justice.
This appeal arises out of an inverse condemnation action and a breach of contract claim. It
concerns access to real property near the Isaacs Canyon Interchange in Ada County. It is the Day
family’s second appeal to this Court. See Day as Trustee of Trust B of Donald M. Day and Marjorie
D. Day Fam. Trust v. Transp. Dep’t, 166 Idaho 293, 458 P.3d 162 (2020) (“Day I”). The Day
family and Trust B of the Donald M. Day and Marjorie D. Day Family Trust are now appealing
1
the district court’s decision to grant the Idaho Transportation Department’s (“ITD”) motion for
involuntary dismissal pursuant to Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b)(2). ITD has cross-appealed,
arguing that the district court erred in denying its request for attorney fees under Idaho Code
section 12-120(3). For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the decisions of the district court.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. The Day Property and the 1967 Contract
In 1935, Ernest George Day and Emma N. Day purchased a “quarter section less the right-
of-way” 1 along the then-existing Highway 30 near Isaacs Canyon in Ada County. This property
(the “Day Property”) is located near what is now the Isaacs Canyon Interchange east of the City
of Boise. After Earnest George Day’s death in 1953, the Day Property was held in Emma’s name
and that of her three sons: Donald M. Day, Robert L. Day, and Ernest E. Day.
In 1961, the Days learned that access to their property via public highways would be
affected when the state highway converted to a controlled-access federal interstate highway, then
known as Interstate 80 (“I-80”).2 Emma and her three sons entered into a preliminary agreement
with the Idaho Department of Highways (“IDH”) that allowed IDH to take possession of
approximately nine acres of the Day Property for construction of the interstate (the “1961
Agreement”). IDH is the predecessor agency to ITD.
A few years later, on October 23, 1967, the Days entered into a right-of-way contract (the
“1967 Contract”) with IDH in furtherance of the 1961 Agreement. The 1967 Contract included an
agreement for IDH to provide access to a future frontage road from I-80 to the Day Property. The
parties executed a warranty deed in accordance with the 1967 Contract, which included access to
a future frontage road. However, the plain language of the 1967 Contract lacked language requiring
either party to build the frontage road, and it failed to set forth a specific location for the future
road and stock drive. The 1967 Contract only specified where access would be available to the
Day Property.
After the execution of the 1967 Contract, IDH purchased a 50-foot public right-of-way “on
which the Days were able to reasonably access” their Property. This access road was an
unimproved right of way that allowed for a single point of access to the Day Property on its
1
A “quarter section” is “[a] piece of land containing 160 acres [or one-quarter of a square mile], laid off by a north-
south or east-west line; one quarter of a section of land, formerly the amount usually granted to a homesteader.”
Section, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed. 2019).
2
This highway is now known as Interstate 84.
2
northeast corner. The route was described by the district court as a “jeep trail” and “fairly flat and
direct route, upon which the Days had vehicular access to their Property.” In 1975, Donald Day
purchased an additional, adjoining parcel, which increased the area of the Day Property to about
300 acres. Multiple inter-familial ownership transfers of the Day Property occurred in the 1980s
and 1990s. At the time this litigation began, title to the Day Property was vested in Trust B of the
Donald M. Day and Marjorie D. Day Family Trust, John F. Day, Dan E. Day, Donna Day Jacobs, 3
David R. Day, and Holcomb Road Holdings, LLC.
B. Isaacs Canyon Interchange Project
In the 1990s, the State began construction on the Isaacs Canyon Interchange near the Day
Property. The Interchange was substantially completed on December 5, 1997. At trial, the parties
stipulated this was the date for valuation of any taking. The Interchange Project eliminated a
portion of the original 50-foot right of way that provided access to the Day Property under the
1967 Contract. Because of this, ITD provided replacement access easements to the Day Property.
These replacement access easements were located southwest of the Interstate.
On December 12, 1997, Ben Day informed ITD that the family was dissatisfied with the
replacement easements and did not think they afforded the Days equivalent access to what they
had prior to the construction of the Interchange. Their main complaint was that the replacement
access traversed steep and impassible terrain. In order to establish public access, the Days informed
ITD of their desire to construct a roadway on the easements that would be approved by the Ada
County Highway District (“ACHD”). Between 1997 and 2000, the Days worked with ITD staff,
including Steve Parry, the deputy attorney general for ITD, to resolve access issues on the property.
The Days, Donna specifically, were very active in communicating with ITD and Parry regarding
their concerns about property access, including concerns over the steep grade along the easements
and their desire to construct a public road that would meet ACHD standards. The Days also reached
out to then-Attorney General Al Lance for assistance, putting additional pressure on ITD to resolve
the issues. As a well-known family in the community, the Days “used their many connections in
an effort to resolve their issues with accessing their Property.”
3
The record refers at times to “Donna Day,” Donna Jacobs,” or “Donna Day Jacobs.” To avoid confusion, this opinion
will refer to her as “Donna.”
3
C. ITD’s July and September 2000 Letters
On June 7, 2000, Parry wrote an internal memorandum to ITD staff delineating the Days’
concerns that 1) the terrain of the easements was too steep for ACHD to approve the construction
of a public road, and 2) the approach at Eisenman Road “is at a right angle” and does not meet
ACHD standards. Parry outlined two possible courses of action that the Days could pursue: taking
the matter to the Transportation Board or filing suit based on inverse condemnation and breach of
the 1967 Contract. Shortly after Parry wrote that memorandum, the Days hired A.J. Bohner (now
deceased) as legal counsel to represent them in their dealings with ITD.
Bohner wrote to Parry to inform him he was representing the Days in this matter and
requested a response updating him on ITD’s position regarding the Days’ access within 10 days.
Once Bohner was hired, Donna ceased personally communicating with Parry and ITD. The Days’
decision to retain counsel, and Bohner’s reputation for filing “premature litigation” against ITD,
caused Parry heightened concern about the possibility of the Days filing a lawsuit. Bohner sent
another letter to Parry on July 18, 2000, pressing for a response to his earlier letter. Parry testified
that Bohner was persistent with his communications and would send written correspondence
almost weekly, requesting a response. On July 19, 2000, Parry wrote a letter to Bohner to request
additional time to formulate a proposal to solve the access issues. Parry wrote in part:
I would request that you provide the Department an extension until September
5, 2000 or shortly thereafter to be able to give you a firm proposal on a solution
to this access issue. . . .
I truly believe the Department is taking this matter seriously and will have some
type of proposal to provide substitute access to the property. I will also represent
to you that the Department will not assert any type of statute of limitations
defense if an agreement on new access cannot be reached.
If an agreement can be reached on a new access easement, we will need to discuss
obtaining an easement from the Day family to reconnect the new right-of-way
through the BLM property to the existing frontage road stock driveway. The new
easement created a small gap in the right-of-way and there may be property owners
to the east of the Day property, which have historically used the stock driveway.
Thank you in advance for your patience with the Department in trying to resolve
this issue.
(Emphasis added).
4
There is no evidence of further communication between the parties about the substance of
Parry’s letter. 4 Bohner told Parry he was “pleased” that ITD was working on a solution and
expected a response from Parry in September. Parry updated Bohner in August, stating a public
road could be constructed within the existing easement and that ITD was trying to determine
whether it needed to widen the easement or seek more property from the underlying property
owner. On September 18, 2000, Parry provided Bohner with ITD’s proposed solution, including a
memorandum from ITD’s designers depicting a road that could be built on the current easements.
Parry stated in the letter that it was his understanding that ACHD would approve ITD’s proposal.
Parry also asked the Days to let him know if any additional needs arose on this issue. His letter
concluded:
If there is something more to be done on this issue, please let me know. With
ACHD’s concurrence in the conceptual design (enclosed documents), I think the
Department has fulfilled its duty of replacing in kind, the access the Day Family
lost when the new freeway interchange was constructed.
There were no further communications between the Days and ITD for the next eight years.
D. The Days’ Actions Following Parry’s Letter
On January 31, 2001, Bohner wrote to ACHD about his correspondence with Parry and
ITD, attaching the September 2000 letter and requesting direction from ACHD on the proposed
roadway design. About a month later, a planning and development coordinator for ACHD sent
Bohner a letter stating he could not definitively say whether the proposed road would meet ACHD
standards due to the limited information provided by Bohner. ACHD asserted that more detailed
plans would be required to determine whether the design would meet its standards. However, the
Days did not submit any further plans for the proposed roadway to ACHD for its consideration.
Instead, Donna began negotiating with neighbors regarding alternative routes for access to the Day
Property. Of note, and contrary to her later testimony, the district court found that Donna did not
discuss the agreement to toll the statute of limitations with her neighbors while trying to find
alternative access.
4
While Parry’s letter has been consistently referred to as a “waiver,” it is more appropriately understood to mean an
agreement to toll the statute of limitations. This is its legal effect. However, the terminology of “waiver” and “toll”
have been used interchangeably since Day I. As this Court explained previously, a perpetual or indefinite waiver of
the statute of limitations would be void as against public policy. Day I, 166 Idaho at 302, 458 P.3d at 171. Instead,
“the waiver is valid only for a reasonable time” and “is a question of fact.” Id. But, as shown on remand, the district
court found that Parry’s intent “was to merely toll the statute of limitations until ITD presented a firm and final
proposal to the Days in September.” (Emphasis added).
5
From 2001 to 2005, the Days’ focus turned to selling their property. There is no indication
that the statute of limitations agreement was discussed or even mentioned in their discussions with
potential buyers. The Days sold the property to Edmonds Groves Land Holdings Inc. (“Groves”)
in 2005, with the purchase price secured by a mortgage held by the Day Family. Testimony and
evidence introduced at trial established that, at the time of the sale, the representative for Groves
was fully aware of the existing access to the Day Property, was able to obtain title insurance, and
had no reason to believe that ITD was required to build a road to the Day Property. There was
apparently no reference to a tolling of the statute of limitations when the Days sold the Property to
Groves.
During the spring of 2008, Groves entered negotiations to sell the Day Property to a third
party. On April 23, 2008, Groves, Donna, and potential new buyers met with a right of way
supervisor from ITD because the potential buyers had questions regarding property access.
Following the meeting, ITD sent the potential buyers a letter allowing the release of legal
descriptions and survey work regarding the easements. There is no evidence that Groves or the
Days requested ITD take any action regarding access to the Day Property in 2008. Groves and
Donna also communicated with ACHD in the Spring of 2008 regarding ACHD’s plan to connect
Lake Hazel Road to Eisenman Road.
Groves later defaulted in its mortgage agreement with the Days during the recession in
December of 2008. As a result, ownership of the Day Property reverted to the Day Family by way
of deed in lieu of foreclosure.
E. Communications between the Days and ITD from 2009-2016
After the Days reacquired the property, they had difficulty obtaining title insurance because
of concerns that “the access easement was owned by ITD and [the Days] did not have any
statement that the easement was for the benefit of the Days.” Donna reached out to Parry for
assistance with the title insurance issue in 2009. Parry introduced Donna to an ITD employee with
experience in title work, and then prepared documentation to assist the Days in confirming that the
easement was for the Days’ benefit and the benefit of other adjacent landowners. However, no
actions were taken to modify the existing access.
Parry retired in 2010. Prior to his retirement, he prepared an internal memorandum about
the history of ITD’s work on the Day Property to inform any staff that might be involved in the
issue with the Days in the future. In 2011, ITD provided the Days with an “Assignment and
6
Assumption of Highway Easement Deed,” which assigned a “floating easement”—an easement
ITD had previously acquired across BLM land—to the Days in an attempt to resolve their title
issues. The Days rejected this offer because, as Donna testified, it did not solve all the issues the
title company identified—it only addressed the grantee issue and did not connect to Eisenman
Road. Communication again ceased between the Days and ITD for all of 2012.
The Days began working with ITD again in 2013, seeking help in finding a location for the
approach to the easement from Eisenman Road. On February 6, 2014, ITD applied to ACHD for
a temporary access point known as the “Green Gate” along Eisenman Road. ACHD denied ITD’s
application. ITD appealed to the ACHD commissioners for review, but then requested that the
appeal be deferred. ITD ultimately withdrew its appeal after ACHD advised ITD that it would not
approve the location of the approach because ACHD had no basis for judging the appropriateness
of the application and the approach was not tied to a proposed development application. In 2014
and 2015, Donna began working with an ITD development services manager to get a neighboring
landowner to widen the easement, with the goal of aligning the easement with the “Green Gate.”
In 2015, ITD offered the Days $560,000 to build the road themselves, which the Days rejected.
An employee of ACHD emailed ITD and Donna in May of 2016 stating that:
ACHD will not accept a public street between the off ramp and the future Lake
Hazel/Eisenman intersection which is approximately 1800-feet from the current
gate. There are existing accesses in this area today. ACHD is not commenting on
these accesses nor stating that ACHD will restrict or alter them in any way.
Over the course of these communications, the Days presented information on the type of road that
could be built and their desire to construct a road that would meet ACHD standards.
F. The Days File Suit Against ITD
The Days filed this action against ITD on November 1, 2016, asserting three causes of
action: 1) inverse condemnation, 2) breach of contract, and 3) breach of an implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing. After the Days moved for partial summary judgment, ITD brought a
cross-motion for partial summary judgment and filed a simultaneous motion to dismiss the Day
family’s complaint pursuant to Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). After hearing arguments
on the motions, the district court dismissed the complaint on the grounds that 1) the plaintiffs
lacked standing as to the breach of contract claim; 2) all plaintiffs, except for Donna and David R.
Day, lacked standing for the inverse condemnation claim; and 3) all three causes of action were
barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
7
The Day family timely appealed. In Day I, this Court affirmed the district court’s decision
on the issue of standing on the inverse condemnation claim; however, we reversed the district
court’s decision on the statute of limitations and standing in relation to the breach of contract claim.
We concluded that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the Day family relied
on ITD’s agreement to toll the statute of limitations. Day I, 166 Idaho at 301, 458 P.3d at 170.
This Court also provided guidance in addressing the duration of the tolling agreement, and
instructed the district court to “evaluate the entirety of the parties’ course of dealing when
determining whether the action was timely filed.” Id. at 302, 458 P.3d at 171.
On remand, the Days amended their complaint to add additional parties—Bennett G. Day
and the Ernest and Lois Day Living Trust—since they owned interests in the Day Property in 1997.
On December 14, 2020, a trial commenced to address whether 1) a taking had occurred, 2) the
action was timely filed, and 3) ITD breached the 1967 Contract. Parry testified that he voluntarily
made the statement regarding tolling the statute of limitations due to his belief that the parties were
close to reaching a resolution and he did not want to unravel the progress they had made. Parry
decided to place that language in the letter because Bohner had been aggressive about requesting
a response and Parry was attempting to convey that ITD was working towards a resolution. Donna
testified that she was “relieved” the statute of limitations had been “waived” because she thought
there was additional work to be done. The district court found the plain language of Parry’s letter
was conditioned on an agreement on new access not being reached and concluded that Parry
intended the agreement to toll the statute of limitations until ITD presented the Days with the final
proposal in September.
The district court found that Donna’s belief that ITD would not provide further assistance
on the access issue was unreasonable because the express language of Parry’s last letter on
September 18, 2000, specifically invited the Days to reach out to him if further help was needed
or issues arose. Further, the district court found that “Parry was motivated to help the Days find a
solution, and he explicitly put the onus on the Days to respond.” When they did not, the court
explained, they “should have known that litigation was a possibility and that the statute of
limitations may be running if no response was made to ITD.”
The district court also noted that there was insufficient evidence presented at trial on
whether ACHD had actually concurred with ITD’s final proposed solution. Parry testified that he
believed the access issue had been completely resolved once he issued the letter in September of
8
2000. In fact, he never heard from Bohner again regarding the Days’ Property. Bohner’s
communications briefly turned to ACHD and then the Days began to search for alternative access
from their neighbors. Parry testified that he relied on Bohner’s and the Days’ silence following the
final proposal to mean that the agreement he proposed was accepted. The district court found that
“[t]he Days did not rely on Parry’s waiver and instead turned their focus to ACHD, negotiating an
agreement with neighbors on different access, and selling the Property.”
The district court examined the parties’ communications after 2009, in compliance with
this Court’s instruction in Day I to “evaluate the entirety of the parties’ course of dealing when
determining whether the action was timely filed.” 166 Idaho at 302, 458 P.3d at 171. The district
court found that ITD’s post-2009 efforts were not an attempt to reach a settlement with the Days;
rather, ITD was acting to assist the Days in working with ACHD and their neighbors to resolve
their continuing issues of access to their property.
After 14 days of trial and the conclusion of the plaintiffs’ case-in-chief, ITD filed a motion
for involuntary dismissal pursuant to Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b)(2). The district court
found that although the Days had established that a taking had occurred, there was no breach of
contract and the inverse condemnation action was untimely; accordingly, it granted the defendant’s
motion and dismissed the case. Regarding the timeliness of the inverse condemnation claim, the
district court found that the statute of limitations had only been tolled during the two-month period
after Parry sent his July 2000 letter until the final proposal was sent to the Days in September of
2000. It further concluded that the Days failed to demonstrate that they relied upon the agreement
to toll the statute of limitations.
After ITD prevailed in the district court, it filed a motion for attorney fees pursuant to Idaho
Code section 12-120(3). The Days filed an untimely objection, asserting the suit was not based on
a commercial transaction but an inverse condemnation claim. In examining Idaho Code section
12-117, the district court concluded that an award of attorney fees was unwarranted because the
Days had not acted without a reasonable basis in fact or law. By ITD’s own admission, it was a
case of “complex legal issues” and “novel questions.” For purposes of determining whether this
was a commercial transaction under section 12-120(3), the district court considered the arguments
on the merits and ultimately denied attorney fees to ITD. The court concluded that “a commercial
transaction was not integral to the inverse condemnation claim.” Further, the district court
determined that the requested fees were not apportioned, and the claims were inseparably
9
intertwined. ITD moved for clarification to determine whether the attorney fees were denied
because the claims were inseparably intertwined or because ITD failed to apportion their fees. ITD
also submitted additional documentation estimating 20% of their billable time had been incurred
solely on the breach of contract claim. The district court again denied all attorney fees, clarifying
that in addition to the section 12-120(3) issue, it declined to award fees for two alternative reasons:
the claims were inseparably intertwined and ITD failed to apportion its fees. It also held that the
information apportioning the fees was untimely.
The Days timely appealed to this Court. ITD cross-appealed on the issue of the denial of
its attorney fees.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“When a defendant moves for an involuntary dismissal [pursuant to Idaho Rule of Civil
Procedure 41(b)] at the close of the plaintiff’s presentation in a non-jury case, the court sits as a
trier of fact and is not required to construe all evidence and inferences to be drawn therefrom in
the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Spirit Ridge Min. Springs, LLC v. Franklin County, 157
Idaho 424, 426, 337 P.3d 583, 585 (2014) (quoting Keenan v. Brooks, 100 Idaho 823, 825, 606
P.2d 473, 475 (1980)). “The district court is not limited in its evaluation of the evidence as it would
be on a motion for a directed verdict; instead the district court may weigh the evidence.” Id.“A reviewing court will uphold factual findings made by the trial court in granting a motion
for involuntary dismissal so long as those findings are not clearly erroneous,” meaning they are
unsupported by substantial and competent evidence. Id.; Tricore Invs., LLC v. Est. of Warren
through Warren, 168 Idaho 596, 610, 485 P.3d 92, 106 (2021). Under the clearly erroneous
standard, the district court’s “findings of fact will be liberally construed in favor of the judgment
entered.” Tricore Invs., 168 Idaho at 610, 485 P.3d at 106 (quoting Wilson v. Mocabee, 167 Idaho
59, 64, 467 P.3d 423, 428 (2020)). “However, this Court exercises free review over the district
judge’s conclusions of law.” Frost v. Gilbert, 169 Idaho 250, 263, 494 P.3d 798, 811 (2021)
(quoting Turcott v. Est. of Bates, 165 Idaho 183, 188, 443 P.3d 197, 202 (2019)).
III. ANALYSIS
In their second appeal to this Court, the Days argue that the district court erred, following
remand and the bench trial that ensued, by: (1) failing to consider their argument that quasi-
estoppel barred ITD from asserting a statute of limitations defense; (2) improperly finding that the
Days had not relied on the statute of limitation agreement; and (3) failing to sufficiently address
10
the entirety of parties’ course of dealing when considering whether the action had been timely
filed. ITD responds by noting that the Days’ quasi-estoppel argument was improperly raised and
that the record supports the district court’s findings and conclusions regarding the statute of
limitations. ITD has also cross-appealed on the district court’s denial of attorney fees under Idaho
Code section 12-120(3), asserting that the district court erred in finding that the gravamen of the
suit was not a commercial transaction.
A. Although not directly addressed by the district court, its findings show that it
implicitly rejected the Days’ argument that quasi-estoppel barred ITD from asserting
a statute of limitations defense.
In the district court’s order granting ITD’s motion to dismiss, it did not discuss the Days’
quasi-estoppel theory. Instead, it concluded that the evidence demonstrated ITD had secured
reasonable access for the Days prior to the 1997 interchange project. The fact that the interchange
project—completed decades later—destroyed a portion of that access did not give rise to the breach
of contract claim because ITD had already performed its duties under the 1967 Contract.
Importantly, the Days are not appealing the district court’s determination that there was no breach
of the 1967 Contract. Rather, on appeal, they argue that quasi-estoppel should preclude ITD from
asserting a statute of limitations defense. ITD suggests that the Days have raised this quasi-estoppel
argument for the first time on appeal, so it should not be reached by this Court.
1. The Days’ quasi-estoppel argument was preserved.
Generally, “an issue presented on appeal must have been properly framed and preserved in
the court below.” Centers v. Yehezkely, 109 Idaho 216, 217, 706 P.2d 105, 106 (Ct. App. 1985).
See also I.A.R. 35(a). To properly preserve an issue for subsequent appellate review, both the issue
and the party’s position on the issue must be raised before the trial court. State v. Gonzalez, 165
Idaho 95, 99, 439 P.3d 1267, 1271 (2019). Once that requirement has been met, the specific legal
authorities used to support the position may evolve. Id.Although the Days acknowledge that their argument has evolved, they maintain it was
sufficiently preserved for review by this Court. Below, they argued that the doctrine of quasi-
estoppel precluded ITD from asserting a statute of limitations defense because ITD’s changing and
inconsistent positions following the 1967 Contract prejudiced them. On appeal, the Days argue
that ITD successfully asserted a statute of limitation defense. They claim this violates the terms of
Parry’s July 19, 2000, letter.
11
Both arguments were ultimately based on the Days’ underlying premise that ITD had
already agreed to provide access to the Day Property in 1967. While the Days have focused on
different documents (the 1967 Contract and the July 2000 letter) to establish their right to access,
we agree that this is merely a refinement of the broad argument they raised below and in their first
appeal to this Court, which focused heavily on the letter from ITD. The Days’ position on the 1967
Contract has been narrowed—not broadened—to assert that the July 2000 letter was an extension
of time to assert their rights under the contract. Thus, we will view this as a refinement rather than
as a new argument. Inasmuch as the letter was admitted and cited below, we will consider the
Days’ quasi-estoppel argument.
2. The district court made implicit findings that are tantamount to a rejection of the Days’
quasi-estoppel theory.
“Quasi-estoppel is essentially a last-gasp theory under which a defendant who can point
to no specific detrimental reliance due to plaintiff’s conduct may still assert that plaintiffs are
estopped from asserting allegedly contrary positions where it would be unconscionable for them
to do so.” Trumble v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. of Idaho, 166 Idaho 132, 146, 456 P.3d 201, 215
(2019) (quoting Schoonover v. Bonner Cnty., 113 Idaho 916, 919, 750 P.2d 95, 98 (1988)). “Quasi-
estoppel prevents a party from changing its legal position and, as a result, gaining an
unconscionable advantage or imposing an unconscionable disadvantage over
another.” Hollingsworth v. Thompson, 168 Idaho 13, 22–23, 478 P.3d 312, 321–22 (2020); Garner
v. Bartschi, 139 Idaho 430, 437, 80 P.3d 1031, 1038 (2003). “Unlike equitable estoppel, quasi-
estoppel does not require an undiscoverable falsehood, and it requires neither misrepresentation
by one party nor reliance by the other.” Hollingsworth, 168 Idaho at 23, 478 P.3d at 322. Quasi-
estoppel applies when:
(1) the offending party took a different position than his or her original position and
(2) either (a) the offending party gained an advantage or caused a disadvantage to
the other party; (b) the other party was induced to change positions; or (c) it would
be unconscionable to permit the offending party to maintain an inconsistent position
from one he or she has already derived a benefit or acquiesced in.
Id. (quoting Trumble, 166 Idaho at 136, 456 P.3d at 215).
The Days argue that the first element of quasi-estoppel has been met because ITD promised
in July 2000 to replace the Days’ access and to not assert the statute of limitations. They maintain
that the second element has been met because ITD gained an unconscionable advantage by
changing its position and asserting the statute of limitations defense, thereby allowing ITD to avoid
12
litigation in 2000 and preventing the Days from recovering on an inverse condemnation claim in
the future. ITD contends that there was not a change in position; rather, it believes it had fulfilled
its promise to provide an alternative access point and toll the statute of limitations. Additionally,
ITD notes that even if the final proposal in the September 2000 letter did not immediately terminate
the brief tolling of the statute of limitations, it would not be unconscionable for ITD to assert a
statute of limitations defense over a decade after the applicable statute of limitations would have
run.
The Days rely on Hollingsworth v. Thompson, in which this Court found quasi-estoppel
applied when a hospital changed its position by holding itself out as a private corporation in its
business filings with the Idaho Secretary of State, but then later maintained it was a governmental
entity when sued. The public filings led the plaintiffs to believe the hospital was a private
corporation, causing them to disregard the ITCA notice deadline to the benefit of the hospital. 168
Idaho at 23, 478 P.3d at 322. However, unlike in Hollingsworth, the Days have failed to show that
ITD took a different position than it had originally promised to the Days. The district court found
that ITD’s continued efforts to provide access ended September 18, 2000, when ITD informed the
Days that it was its belief that it had provided the promised replacement access. The district court
found that the agreement to toll the statute of limitations expired at that time because ITD believed
an agreement was reached. All communications between the parties then ceased for eight years.
When they resumed, communication was intermittent and addressed different issues, without
mentioning the Days’ belief that the statute of limitations had been waived or tolled. Additionally,
the Days then sold their property during this interim period, although they later reacquired the
property when the purchaser defaulted on the mortgage.
The district court’s findings demonstrate that it had rejected the notion that quasi-estoppel
prevented ITD from asserting a statute of limitations defense because ITD did not change its
position. The court found that because ITD reasonably believed an agreement on access had been
reached, the statute of limitations was no longer tolled, and it simply expired when the Days failed
to bring a timely claim. In sum, based on the district court’s findings, it could not have determined
that it was unconscionable for ITD to assert a statute of limitations defense when the Days missed
the statute of limitations deadline by more than a decade. Unlike in Hollingsworth, where the
hospital was clearly taking contrary positions, ITD acted consistently with its testified belief that
an agreement for access had been reached and the tolling of the statute of limitations had ceased.
13
Therefore, the findings of the district court cannot support a conclusion that the first element of
quasi-estoppel was met when there was no evidence that ITD changed its position.
In relation to the second element of quasi-estoppel, creating an unconscionable
disadvantage, the district court expressly found that a taking had occurred and that the Days had a
viable inverse condemnation claim on the stipulated date of December 5, 1997. The Days argue
that their disadvantage arises from ITD asserting the statute of limitations claim and it gained an
unconscionable advantage in this litigation by doing so. The statute of limitations defense
ultimately led to the Days’ inverse condemnation claim being dismissed. However, the Days did
not show how such a result is unconscionable considering the actions they took following the
taking.
It is not an unconscionable result to allow ITD to assert a statute of limitations defense after
it reasonably believed an agreement had been reached in September 2000, and then it did not hear
from the Days again until 2008. During that time, the Days took no further action regarding access,
despite threatening legal action during the summer of 2000. Their only communications were with
ACHD in seeking advice on ITD’s proposed roadway design, but then the Days never followed up
on ACHD’s request for additional information. The Days then sold the property to a third party
before reacquiring it years later due to foreclosure. Once communications resumed in 2008
between the Days and ITD, it was sporadic. These communications were often unrelated to access
and did not include any mention of ongoing tolling or waiver of the statute of limitations. From
2013 until the Days filed suit in 2016, the communication between the parties concerned requests
from the Days for assistance from ITD in obtaining a roadway that would meet ACHD standards—
a road that the district court found ITD was not required to provide. Thus, the facts found by the
district court do not support a finding that the second element of quasi-estoppel can be met.
Accordingly, we find that the district court implicitly rejected the Days’ quasi-estoppel arguments.
In reaching this decision, we agree with the Days that the district court should have
expressly addressed quasi-estoppel, as it was an issue clearly before the court. “It [is] incumbent
on the district court to address all of the issues raised before it. It is not appropriate for this Court,
for the first time on appeal, to address issues the district court failed to rule on.” Est. of Davis, 167
Idaho 229, 235, 469 P.3d 16, 22 (2020). However, as we have previously determined, a lower
court’s decision on a matter may be implicit in its ruling. See e.g., Lubcke v. Boise City/Ada Cnty.
Hous. Auth., 124 Idaho 450, 463, 860 P.2d 653, 666 (1993) (“[E]ven though the district
14
court did not explicitly address the qualified immunity issue in responding to Worrell’s motions
to dismiss and post-trial motions, it is implicit in the court’s rulings that it rejected Worrell’s
properly raised immunity claims.”). That is the case here where the district court’s detailed
findings constituted an implicit repudiation of the Days’ quasi-estoppel claim.
Accordingly, in reaching the merits of the Days’ quasi-estoppel argument, we conclude
that substantial and competent evidence in the record, as reflected in the district court’s findings,
supports the conclusion that ITD did not change its position in relation to locating a replacement
access or the tolling of the statute of limitations. Thus, ITD, by asserting a statute of limitations
defense in 2016, did not gain an unconscionable advantage as required by the doctrine of quasi-
estoppel.
B. The district court correctly found that the Days did not rely on ITD’s continuous
tolling of the statute of limitations.
In Day I, this Court determined that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether
the Day family detrimentally relied on the terms of Parry’s July 2000 letter to toll the statute of
limitations. 166 Idaho at 301–02, 458 P.3d at 170–71. We remanded the case so the district court
could determine the duration of the agreement’s effectiveness, noting that a statute of limitations
could only be tolled “for a reasonable time.” Id. at 302, 458 P.3d at 171. Once the Days had rested
their case and ITD moved for dismissal pursuant to Rule 41, the district court found the Days
“failed to demonstrate that they relied” upon Parry’s promise to toll the statute of limitations after
receiving the September 2000 letter. The Days argue that substantial and competent evidence
exists in the record showing they relied on the agreement, based on the fact that they did not file
an inverse condemnation claim against ITD earlier. ITD argues that the district court made
numerous findings of fact following the trial, and those facts support the conclusion that the Days
did not rely on the agreement to toll the statute of limitations.
“A reviewing court will uphold factual findings made by the trial court in granting a
motion for involuntary dismissal so long as those findings are not clearly erroneous.” Spirit Ridge
Min. Springs, 157 Idaho at 426, 337 P.3d at 585. Under the clearly erroneous standard, the district
court’s “findings of fact will be liberally construed in favor of the judgment entered.” Tricore Invs.,
168 Idaho at 610, 485 P.3d at 106. “Findings of fact that are supported by substantial and
competent evidence are not clearly erroneous—even in the face of conflicting evidence in the
record.” Id. (quoting Lunneborg v. My Fun Life, 163 Idaho 856, 863, 421 P.3d 187, 194 (2018)).
“Substantial and competent evidence is relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept
15
to support a conclusion.” Id. (quoting Kelly v. Wagner, 161 Idaho 906, 910, 393 P.3d 566, 570
(2017)).
1. The Days’ conduct from 2000 to 2016 does not show reliance on ITD’s agreement to
toll the statute of limitations.
The mere fact that the Days waited to file their claim against ITD until 2016 does not add
much, if anything, to their position that they relied on the agreement to toll the statute of limitations
and altered their position. In other words, the Days argue that they did not file a claim because
they relied on the tolling of the statute of limitations. Yet, they attempt to prove their reliance on
the tolling by the mere fact that they did not file a timely claim. This argument relies on circular
reasoning and the fallacy of affirming the consequent. 5 There could have been many reasons for
the Days’ delay in filing their claim. The Days’ actions, or rather, lack of action, following the
September 2000 letter from ITD, could just as easily resemble the actions of a property owner
satisfied with the access provided to his property. Indeed, while Donna worked with neighbors
regarding alternative routes for access to the Day Property, she did not mention a “waiver” or any
tolling of the statute of limitations to them.
Additional facts also undermine the Days’ argument that they believed access remained an
unresolved issue and that they were waiting to file suit in reliance on the waiver. For instance, the
Days did not respond to ITD’s final proposal in 2000 even though Parry (1) asked the Days to let
him know if there was anything else to be done, and (2) stated that he believed this proposal had
solved the access issue. Donna even testified at trial that she thought there was nothing more ITD
could do regarding access. The Days then sold the property in 2005 without informing the new
buyer about the statute of limitations agreement. In short, the Days never discussed ITD’s tolling
of the statute of limitations with any prospective buyer, or the eventual buyer.
In the time following Parry’s letter and subsequent final proposal sent in September 2000,
ITD took no further action to provide the Days with access, nor did the Days ask them to do so,
until 2011. The record shows that there was silence between the Days and ITD from 2000 until
2008. This was followed by communication regarding title issues from 2009 to 2011 and then
further silence between the parties during 2012. While ITD employees assisted the Days from
5
This logical fallacy, in which causes and effects are improperly treated as interchangeable, is demonstrated by the
following example: If I have the flu, I will have a fever. I have a fever; therefore, I must have the flu. Here the Days’
argument follows this same pattern: If the statute of limitations was tolled, we would wait to file. Since we waited to
file, the statute of limitations must have been tolled.
16
2013 to 2016 in obtaining an approach from ACHD, this is not equivalent to a continuation of the
negotiations for a replacement access in September 2000. Those negotiations ended in September
2000 and were never revisited. Although the Days attempt to reverse the argument, pointing out
that no evidence was provided to show that they did not rely on an ongoing agreement to toll the
statute of limitations, the district court concluded that the Days had the burden to show reliance.
The court then concluded that their burden had not been met because the actions taken by the Days,
including the entire course of their dealings with ITD, failed to provide substantial and competent
evidence of their reliance.
On appeal, the Days point to facts in the record they claim support their assertion that the
district court erred. They primarily focus on the lack of a withdrawal of the waiver by ITD and
ITD’s continued assistance to the Days. While these facts may provide limited support to the Days’
reliance argument, the weight of the findings made by the district court demonstrate that the Days
did not act in reliance on the waiver. The court found it compelling that the Days never mentioned
the alleged waiver to their neighbors during negotiations for access or when they sold their
property. Likewise, the Days ceased communicating with ITD following receipt of ITD’s final
proposal and instead chose to sell the land.
The trial court, as the fact finder, weighed all these facts in the balance and reached the
conclusion that these were not the actions of a party who believed the statute of limitations was
tolled. This conclusion is supported by substantial and competent evidence in the record.
Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s determination that the Days did not rely on the waiver.
C. As instructed to do on remand, the district court evaluated the entirety of the parties’
course of dealing in determining that the Days’ inverse condemnation claim was not
timely filed.
1. The duration of ITD’s agreement in relation to the statute of limitations expired once
the Days failed to respond to the final proposal.
In Day I, this Court instructed the district court on remand to evaluate the entirety of the
parties’ course of dealing in determining whether the inverse condemnation claim had been timely
filed. 166 Idaho at 302, 458 P.3d at 171. It did so and found that the inverse condemnation claim
was untimely because ITD only agreed to toll the statute of limitations until September 18, 2000,
when Parry’s final proposal was sent. The court below concluded that under any reasonable
interpretation of the letter, the statute of limitations would have expired before 2008, well before
the date of the Days’ initial filing in 2016. In Day I, this Court held even if we construed the letter
17
as granting a waiver, a perpetual or indefinite waiver of the statute of limitations would be void as
against public policy because a waiver is valid only for a reasonable time, and that reasonable time
is not defined by the applicable statute of limitations. Id.
In remanding the case, we explained that “the district court, sitting as a trier of fact on the
inverse condemnation claim, must evaluate the entirety of the parties’ course of dealing when
determining whether the action was timely filed.” Id. The district court first considered the duration
of ITD’s agreement to toll the statute of limitations in determining whether the Days’ claim had
been timely filed. “Waiver is foremost a question of intent.” River Range, LLC v. Citadel Storage,
LLC, 166 Idaho 592, 601, 462 P.3d 120, 129 (2020) (quoting Knipe Land Co. v. Robertson, 151
Idaho 449, 457, 259 P.3d 595, 603 (2011)). “The party alleging waiver must show a clear intention
by the other party to waive before waiver will be established.” Id. “Importantly, the party asserting
waiver must also show that he acted in reasonable reliance upon [the waiver] and that he thereby
has altered his position to his detriment.” Pocatello Hosp., LLC v. Quail Ridge Med. Inv., LLC,
156 Idaho 709, 719, 330 P.3d 1067, 1077 (2014) (alteration in original) (internal citations and
quotation marks omitted). See also Magic Valley Foods, Inc. v. Sun Valley Potatoes, Inc., 134
Idaho 785, 788, 10 P.3d 734, 737 (2000) (concluding waiver was not established when seller failed
to show detrimental reliance on buyer’s waiver of a payment term). “Waiver is a question of fact
and requires a showing of substantial evidence on the record.” A & B Irrigation Dist. v. Aberdeen-
Am. Falls Ground Water Dist. (In re SRBA Case No. 39576), 141 Idaho 746, 754, 118 P.3d 78, 86
(2005) (citing Riverside Dev. Co. v. Ritchie, 103 Idaho 515, 518, 650 P.2d 657, 660 (1982)).
Of course, the district court was tasked with more than just applying a reasonable
interpretation of the parties’ correspondence—it was asked to examine the history of the Days’
interactions with ITD. The district court found that the course of dealing between the parties, prior
to the final proposal being sent in 2000, demonstrates consistent and persistent communication,
especially after Bohner became involved on behalf of the Days. There was a flurry of
communication between Bohner and Parry at ITD regarding getting the Days a final proposal
related to replacement access. Parry testified he added the language tolling the statute of limitations
in order to give ITD time to come up with a final proposal. He wanted to avoid unraveling the
progress the parties had made until a final proposal could be presented to the Days. Once that final
proposal was sent two months later, Parry asked the Days to inform him if there was anything else
18
to be done, and it was his understanding that with the submission of the final proposal, an
agreement had been reached unless he was informed otherwise.
These facts support the district court’s finding that once the proposal was sent by Parry,
ITD reasonably assumed that an agreement had been reached since they did not hear from the Days
again until 2008. The facts in the record support the finding that ITD believed an agreement had
been reached and the tolling ceased. The lack of any response from the Days is telling, especially
since prior to the proposal being sent, communication from the Days was frequent and often
pressed ITD for quick responses.
The Days argue that the tolling agreement’s duration should be defined by its plain
language and, therefore, should have continued until it was clear that an agreement could not be
reached. The Days are correct that in Day I, this Court considered the plain language of the letter
to determine whether the statute of limitations had been tolled, but in considering the duration of
the “waiver,” this Court remanded for the district court to consider the parties’ course of dealing.
166 Idaho at 301–02, 458 P.3d at 170–71. In light of the possibility that the parties could never
reach an agreement, the Days’ assertion that the “waiver” should have continued until an
agreement with third parties on new access could not be reached would have resulted in an
indefinite waiver. This interpretation goes against our prior holding that indefinite or perpetual
waivers violate public policy. Day I, 166 Idaho at 302, 458 P.3d at 171.
The Days also argue that the district court should have focused more on determining
whether the parties reached an agreement on access based on the final proposal from Parry in 2000.
This argument treats the final proposal sent by Parry as a binding offer to which the Days never
explicitly agreed. Under the circumstances of this case, which concerns access to real property, the
Days’ silence cannot be seen as acceptance. The district court found that the course of dealing
between the parties, and the language in Parry’s letters, should have put the Days on notice that
the tolling of the statute of limitations would end once the final proposal was sent, unless they
informed ITD that the arrangement was unsatisfactory. The record undermines the Days’ argument
here as Donna testified that she believed once the final proposal was received, Parry’s “hands were
tied somehow” and ITD would not do anything further regarding the access issue.
The district court found that given the communication and actions of the parties before the
proposal, it was reasonable for ITD to believe that an agreement had been reached. Thus, the
condition for the termination of the tolling agreement had been satisfied. The Days make multiple
19
arguments that the district court’s finding is not supported by the record because the parties
continued to work together for many years to reach an agreement. When a similar argument was
made to the district court, it concluded that the Days were misconstruing the facts. The district
court found, and the evidence supports, that communications between the parties from 2008 to
2010 involved title issues the Days were having with ACHD. While that, in part, involved access,
the Days never asked ITD to make any changes to their access agreement. Communication
between the parties was inconsistent after that, until ITD began working with the Days regarding
ACHD building a roadway, which the district court found was simply the ITD employees acting
as public servants rather than actions to avoid litigation. The Days’ assertion that the parties
continuously worked together for years to reach a new access agreement is simply not supported
by the facts.
The Days also argue that since the final proposal was deficient and ineffective in resolving
the lack of access, it could not have led to an agreement between the parties. Again, the district
court was instructed to evaluate the parties’ course of dealing to determine the duration of the
tolling agreement, and the details of the final proposal did not change the district court’s findings.
If there was no agreement, it begs the question of why the Days did not reject the proposal, continue
to negotiate with ITD, or file suit following their receipt of the September 2000 proposal. In the
letter included with ITD’s final proposal, Parry stated that he believed this was the solution for the
access issues that the Days were experiencing. The district court found that after reviewing the
course of dealing between the parties, it was reasonable for ITD to believe an agreement had been
reached when the Days did not continue communicating with ITD after receipt of the proposal.
In Day I, we provided guidance to the district court about determining the duration of ITD’s
agreement to toll the statute of limitations, and instructed the district court as the trier of fact to
evaluate the parties’ course of dealing to determine if the action was timely filed. 166 Idaho at 302,
458 P.3d at 171. We uphold the factual findings of the district court as they are not clearly
erroneous, and the facts found are supported by substantial and competent evidence. Determining
whether the Days’ actions were reasonable was the essential assignment for the district court on
remand and it ultimately found that accepting the Days’ arguments would result in an unreasonable
waiver in violation of public policy. Instead, the district court appropriately found that the waiver
effectively tolled the statute of limitations for two months and then expired once the Days received
the final proposal from ITD. This finding is supported by the evidence adduced at trial and the
20
record shows that the district court fully considered the entire course of dealing between the parties.
Thus, we affirm the decision of the district court.
2. The district court evaluated the parties’ course of dealing in determining that the Days’
inverse condemnation claim had been untimely filed.
“Civil actions can only be commenced within the periods prescribed . . . after the cause of
action shall have accrued, except when, in special cases, a different limitation is prescribed by
statute.” I.C. § 5-201. “A cause of action accrues and the statute of limitations begins to run when
a cause of action exists.” Swafford v. Huntsman Springs, Inc., 163 Idaho 209, 212, 409 P.3d 789,
792 (2017). A claim for inverse condemnation “must be commenced within four (4) years after
the cause of action shall have accrued.” I.C. § 5-224. Both parties stipulated that the statute of
limitations on the inverse condemnation claim began running on December 5, 1997.
The district court, as the trier of fact, evaluated all actions taken by the parties from the
time the taking occurred until the time this action was originally filed by the Days. The Days
presented their case-in-chief over 14 days and called ten witnesses before resting. Over the
objections of ITD that some evidence was irrelevant, the district court admitted all the evidence
offered by the Days of the parties’ communications after 2008 until the complaint was filed in
2016. After considering this evidence, the district court found that the agreement in Parry’s letter
tolled the statute of limitations for only two months, ending when the final proposal was sent to
the Days. This finding is supported by substantial and competent evidence in the record and,
therefore, we uphold the findings of the district court.
The district court found a reasonable interpretation of the duration of the tolling was that it
expired on September 18, 2000, and so the statute of limitations for the inverse condemnation
claim would have expired on or about February 4, 2002. 6 The district court also considered the
possibility that the statute of limitations reset after the final proposal was presented, meaning the
inverse condemnation claim would have had to have been filed by September 18, 2004. The district
court determined that “under any reasonable interpretation of the duration of the waiver,” the Days’
suit was filed long after the most liberal interpretation of the statute of limitations would have
required. This conclusion is supported by the evidence in the record and was reached by applying
6
The district court concluded that the statute of limitations was tolled from July 19, 2000, to about September 18,
2000. Thus, the court concluded, it would be reasonable to conclude that the statute of limitations would expire on
February 4, 2002, on the inverse condemnation claim (four years and two months after accrual) and February 4, 2003,
on the breach of contract claim (five years and two months after accrual).
21
our instructions in Day I. Therefore, we conclude that the district court properly considered the
parties’ entire course of dealing and correctly determined that the Days’ action against ITD was
untimely filed. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment in this matter.
D. The district court did not err by declining to award attorney fees to ITD.
We next address ITD’s cross-appeal from the district court’s order denying its request for
attorney fees under Idaho Code section 12-120(3). ITD argues that the district court erred because
the gravamen of the action is a commercial transaction. ITD notes that the Days did not dispute
that the breach of contract claim was a commercial transaction. However, the district court found
that the inverse condemnation claim did not meet the elements of Idaho Code section 12-120(3)
and was not a commercial transaction. The district court also concluded that the fees were not
apportioned, and the claims were inseparably intertwined, which is why fees that may have been
covered as relating to a breach of contract were not awarded. ITD filed a motion for clarification
to determine whether the attorney fees were denied because the claims were inseparably
intertwined or because ITD failed to apportion its fees. In the case of the latter, ITD submitted
documentation apportioning the attorney fees. The district court again denied all fees, clarifying
that it declined to award fees on both grounds and added that ITD’s apportioned fee information
was untimely.
Awarding attorney fees and costs is within the discretion of the trial court and subject to
review for an abuse of discretion. Idaho Transp. Dep’t v. Ascorp, Inc., 159 Idaho 138, 140, 357
P.3d 863, 865 (2015); Smith v. Mitton, 140 Idaho 893, 897, 104 P.3d 367, 371 (2004). “In making
this determination, this Court conducts a four-part inquiry to determine whether the trial court:
“(1) correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) acted within the outer boundaries of its
discretion; (3) acted consistently with the legal standards applicable to the specific choices
available to it; and (4) reached its decision by the exercise of reason.” Lunneborg, 163 Idaho at
873, 421 P.3d at 204. However, “[w]hether an action is based on a commercial transaction is a
question of law over which this Court exercises free review.” Intermountain Real Props., LLC v.
Draw, LLC, 155 Idaho 313, 320, 311 P.3d 734, 741 (2013).
While not expressly stated, ITD seems to argue that the district court abused its discretion
by not acting consistently with the legal standards applicable to it in determining whether the
gravamen of the inverse condemnation claim is a commercial transaction. Idaho Code section 12-
120(3) provides that:
22
In any civil action to recover on an open account, account stated, note, bill,
negotiable instrument, guaranty, or contract relating to the purchase or sale of
goods, wares, merchandise, or services and in any commercial transaction unless
otherwise provided by law, the prevailing party shall be allowed a reasonable
attorney’s fee to be set by the court, to be taxed and collected as costs.
The term “commercial transaction” is defined to mean all transactions except
transactions for personal or household purposes. The term “party” is defined to
mean any person, partnership, corporation, association, private organization, the
state of Idaho or political subdivision thereof.
Where Idaho Code section 12-120(3) applies, an award of attorney fees to the prevailing party is
mandatory. Merrill v. Gibson, 139 Idaho 840, 845, 87 P.3d 949, 954 (2004). There is no dispute
in this case that ITD was the prevailing party in the district court, and the Days do not argue
otherwise in their objection to ITD’s request for attorney fees.
We have previously determined that section 12-120(3) applies if a commercial transaction
is “integral to the claim” and also “constitute[s] the basis upon which the party is attempting to
recover.” Knudsen v. J.R. Simplot Co., 168 Idaho 256, 272, 483 P.3d 313, 329 (2021); Reynolds v.
Trout Jones Gledhill Fuhrman, P.A., 154 Idaho 21, 26–27, 293 P.3d 645, 650–51
(2013) (quoting Carrillo v. Boise Tire Co., 152 Idaho 741, 755–56, 274 P.3d 1256, 1270–71
(2011)). In other words, recovery of attorney’s fees under section 12-120(3) hinges on “whether
the gravamen of a claim is a commercial transaction.” Sims v. Jacobson, 157 Idaho 980, 985, 342
P.3d 907, 912 (2015) (citation omitted).
“[C]ourts analyze the gravamen claim by claim.” Id. “Yet, where there are multiple claims
in an action, and only some qualify for a fee award under section 12-120(3), attorney’s fees are
properly denied if those claims are ‘inseparably intertwined.’ ” Knudsen, 168 Idaho at 273, 483
P.3d at 330 (citation omitted). See also Brooks v. Gigray Ranches, Inc., 128 Idaho 72, 77–79, 910
P.2d 744, 749–51 (1996). When a party has prevailed on claims for which it is statutorily entitled
to an award of attorney’s fees and claims upon which it is not, this Court has held “that the
prevailing party must apportion the fees between the claim upon which it was entitled to recover
. . . and the claim upon which it was not.” Advanced Med. Diagnostics, LLC v. Imaging Ctr. of
Idaho, LLC, 154 Idaho 812, 815, 303 P.3d 171, 174 (2013). “Where fees were not apportioned
between a claim that qualifies under I.C. § 12-120(3) and one that does not, no fees are to be
awarded.” Rockefeller v. Grabow, 136 Idaho 637, 645, 39 P.3d 577, 585 (2001) (citing Brooks,
128 Idaho at 79, 910 P.2d at 752). This Court has stated that simply because “both parties have
asked for attorney fees under section 12-120(3) does not mean such an award is automatically
23
appropriate.” Knudsen, 168 Idaho at 272–73, 483 P.3d at 329–30 (alteration in original) (citation
omitted); Brunobuilt, Inc. v. Strata, Inc., 166 Idaho 208, 222, 457 P.3d 860, 874
(2020) (citing Soignier v. Fletcher, 151 Idaho 322, 326–27, 256 P.3d 730, 734–35 (2011)).
“Although the parties requested fees on this basis, the party seeking fees must also demonstrate a
commercial transaction was the gravamen of each claim.” Knudsen, 166 Idaho at 272–73, 483 P.3d
at 329–30.
In reviewing the case before us on a claim by claim basis, we conclude that the gravamen
of this suit was an inverse condemnation claim—a constitutional action—and concerned
accessibility to the Day Property. While there was a breach of contract claim raised in this suit, the
inverse condemnation claim itself arose out of the 1997 taking. It was not part of a transaction or
commercial relationship, nor was the inverse condemnation claim dependent on the 1967 Contract.
Thus, we cannot agree with ITD’s contention that the gravamen of the suit was commercial in
nature.
We also note that the Days’ earlier request for fees under Idaho Code section 12-120(3) is
not dispositive to finding that the gravamen of the claim is a commercial transaction. Knudsen,
168 Idaho at 272–73, 483 P.3d at 329–30. We have held that “ ‘[a]llegations in the complaint that
the parties entered into a commercial transaction and that the complaining party is entitled to
recover based upon that transaction, are sufficient to trigger the application of I.C. § 12-120(3).’ ”
Carter v. Gateway Parks, LLC, 168 Idaho 428, 441, 483 P.3d 971, 984 (2020) (alteration in
original) (quoting Garner v. Povey, 151 Idaho 462, 470, 259 P.3d 608, 616 (2011)). We have
typically applied this rule where, after substantive litigation, a party seeking fees attempted to
change its characterization of the action. See id. at 440–41, 483 P.3d at 983–84; Garner, 151 Idaho
at 471, 259 P.3d at 617. Equally applicable, however, is our rule that “[a] prevailing party may
rely on I.C. § 12–120(3) if pled by another party for recovery of attorney fees” where “it is
warranted under the statute.” Garner, 151 Idaho at 470, 259 P.3d at 616 (emphasis included).
Thus, “[a] party seeking fees based on a mere request under I.C. § 12–120(3) must show that a
commercial transaction was the gravamen of the action before a court may award fees.” Id.
Both parties asked for fees under Idaho Code section 12-120(3), but that fact alone does
not automatically entitle the prevailing party to an award under the statute. ITD, as the prevailing
party seeking fees, was required to demonstrate that a commercial transaction was the gravamen
of each claim. Knudsen, 168 Idaho at 272–73, 483 P.3d at 329–30; Garner, 151 Idaho at 470, 259
24
P.3d at 616. This ITD has failed to do. Because the district court properly determined that the
gravamen of the Days’ claim was the inverse condemnation issue, ITD is not entitled to attorney
fees under Idaho Code section 12-120(3).
We also affirm the district court’s determination that the claims were intertwined and not
appropriately apportioned—decisions that are well within the bounds of the district court’s
discretion. Because the district court’s findings were consistent with the legal standards applicable
to it, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion. We affirm the district court’s
denial of attorney fees on these grounds.
E. Neither party is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
On appeal, ITD requests attorney fees pursuant to Idaho Code section 12-120(3) while the
Days seek attorney fees under Idaho Code section 12-121. As just discussed, section 12-120(3) is
inapplicable to this case where the gravamen of the claims is an inverse condemnation claim rather
than a commercial transaction. Additionally, while ITD has prevailed as the respondent, it has not
prevailed in its cross-appeal; thus, is not the prevailing party here. Knudsen, 168 Idaho at 274, 483
P.3d at 331 (“Where a party loses on its cross-appeal, it is not a prevailing party.”).
Idaho Code section 12-121 provides, “[i]n any civil action, the judge may award reasonable
attorney’s fees to the prevailing party or parties when the judge finds that the case was brought,
pursued, or defended frivolously, unreasonably or without foundation.” “Where an appeal turns
on questions of law, an award of attorney fees under [section 12-121] is proper if the law is well-
settled and the appellant has made no substantial showing that the district court misapplied the
law.” Elec. Wholesale Supply Co. v. Nielson, 136 Idaho 814, 828, 41 P.3d 242, 256 (2001);
Andrews v. Idaho Forest Indus., Inc., 117 Idaho 195, 198, 786 P.2d 586, 589 (Ct. App. 1990).
“When an appeal simply disputes the trial court’s factual findings, which are supported by
substantial although conflicting evidence, the appeal is considered frivolous, and an award of
attorney fees is proper under [Idaho Code section] 12-121.” Elec. Wholesale, 136 Idaho at 828, 41
P.3d at 256.
We conclude that the Days are not entitled to attorney fees. Notwithstanding our denial of
ITD’s cross-appeal on attorney fees, the Days are not the prevailing party on appeal nor have they
shown ITD defended the case frivolously, unreasonably, or without foundation. Both parties raised
complex and novel legal issues stemming from an inverse condemnation claim and a complicated
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property history. Accordingly, we conclude that attorney fees will not be awarded under either
statute.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court. Because both parties
prevailed in part, we do not award costs or attorney fees on appeal to either side.
Chief Justice BEVAN, Justices BRODY, STEGNER and ZAHN CONCUR.
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