Reasonableness of attorney's fee must be proven

Court of Appeals may overturn fee award even if authorized by statute when the fee claimant did not support the amount of the fees sought with proper evidence of reasonableness through her attorney.
   ATTORNEY FEE EVIDENCE: SHOWING OF REASONABLENESS REQUIRED 

As a prerequisite to the recovery of attorney’s fees for any underlying cause of action, the party seeking fees must prove the reasonableness of the fees. Bocquet v. Herring, 972 S.W.2d 19, 21 (Tex. 1998).

Reasonableness of fees must be supported by competent evidence. Peeples v. Peeples, 562 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.Civ.App.--San Antonio 1978, no writ). Here, there were no findings of fact entered to support the award of attorney's fees and costs. We must therefore presume the trial court made all findings necessary to support its order. Holt Atherton Industries, Inc. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d 80, 83 (Tex. 1992).

Factors considered by the court when determining the amount of reasonable fees include: (1) the time and labor required, novelty and difficulty of the question presented, and the skill required; (2) the likelihood that acceptance of employment precluded other employment; (3) the fee customarily charged for similar services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances; (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent. Arthur Anderson & Co. v. Perry Equip. Corp., 945 S.W.2d 812, 818 (Tex. 1997).

[Attorney in this case] did not testify, nor did she present an affidavit, itemized statements, exhibits, or any other offer of proof as to the reasonableness of her fees. The record is devoid of evidence relating to her experience, the time and labor involved, the difficulty of the task, her hourly rates, rates customarily charged for similar services, or her fee agreement with [ client ]. While a party need not offer proof of all the factors above, [ attorney ] did not offer proof under any of them. She referenced a “case ledger” presumably detailing her time spent preparing the motions and fees incurred. But it was not offered as an exhibit, was not introduced into evidence and does not appear in the record. We have only her request for fees of $518.10.

Under these facts, we are not persuaded [ party clainming fees ] provided more than a scintilla of evidence as to the reasonableness of the amount of fees requested. Finding legally insufficient evidence to support the award, we must conclude that the trial court abused its discretion. We sustain Issue Seven and reverse and render that [ fee claimant ] take nothing.

SOURCE: El Paso Court of Appeals - 08-10-00149-CV - 7/29/11