Opinion
No. 2980573.
Decided July 16, 1999.
Appeal from Mobile Circuit Court (CV-96-2514), Chris N. Galanos, Judge.
Robert J. Hedge of Jackson, Taylor Martino, P.C., MObile, for appellant.
Edward P. Rowan of Janecky, Newell, P.C., Mobile, for appellee.
AFFIRMED. NO OPINION.
See Rule 53(a)(1) and (a)(2)(F), Ala.R.App.P.; Rule 54(d), Ala.R.Civ.P.;Buchanan v. Stanships, Inc., 485 U.S. 265, 108 S.Ct. 1130, 99 L. Ed. 2d 289 (1988); Hinson v. Holt, [Ms. 2970541, Nov. 20, 1998] ___ So.2d ___ (Ala.Civ.App. 1998); and Littleton v. Gold Kist, Inc., 480 So.2d 1236 (Ala.Civ.App. 1985).
Appellee's motion for damages and attorney's fees pursuant to Rule 38, Ala.R.App.P. and §§ 12-19-271 and 12-19-272, Ala. Code 1975, is denied.
Robertson, P.J., and Yates and Crawley, JJ., concur.
I wish to point out that Culbreth made an offer of judgment on September 18, 1996, just seven weeks after Mills filed the complaint in this case. The offer of judgment was made before depositions were taken, and obviously before the motion for summary judgment was filed and the trial was held. Rule 68, Ala.R.Civ.P., provides that, "[i]f the judgment finally obtained by the offeree is not more favorable that the offer, the offeree must pay the costs incurred after making of the offer."
Because nearly all of the costs incurred by the defendant arose after she made the offer of judgment, and because it appears that all the costs were necessary in defending the case, I agree that the trial court correctly enforced the taxation of costs.