ORS 20.077: Determination of prevailing party; cases in which more than one claim made; prevailing party on appeal.

(1) In any action or suit in which one or more claims are asserted for which an award of attorney fees is either authorized or required, the prevailing party on each claim shall be determined as provided in this section. The provisions of this section apply to all proceedings in the action or suit, including arbitration, trial and appeal. (2) For the purposes of making an award of attorney fees on a claim, the prevailing party is the party who receives a favorable judgment or arbitration award on the claim. If more than one claim is made in an action or suit for which an award of attorney fees is either authorized or required, the court or arbitrator shall: (a) Identify each party that prevails on a claim for which attorney fees could be awarded; (b) Decide whether to award attorney fees on claims for which the court or arbitrator is authorized to award attorney fees, and the amount of the award; (c) Decide the amount of the award of attorney fees on claims for which the court or arbitrator is required to award attorney fees; and (d) Enter a judgment that complies with the requirements of ORS 18.038 and 18.042. (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, upon appeal of a judgment in an action or suit in which one or more claims are asserted for which the prevailing party may receive an award of attorney fees, the appellate court in its discretion may designate as the prevailing party a party who obtains a substantial modification of the judgment. (4) This section does not create a claim to an award of attorney fees in any action or suit in which the court or arbitrator is not otherwise authorized or required to make an award of attorney fees by contract or other law. [2001 c.417 §1; 2003 c.576 §167]