S-19-0378 In re interest of A.M. and S.K.S.
Washington County Juvenile Court, Judge C. Matthew Samuelson
Attorneys: Desirae M. Solomon (County Attorney’s Office) --- Kristine Roberts (Roberts Law Office, LLC, for Appellee)
Civil: Fees; termination
Proceedings below: The juvenile court held the attorney fees were fair, reasonable, and proper and ordered Washington County to pay the sum of $12,103.80 to K. Roberts.
Issues: The trial court erred by finding 1) that Washington County had to pay attorney fees without evidence that mother was indigent and unable to hire her own attorney, and 2) the attorney fees earned were reasonable and necessary for the defense of the mother by ordering the County to pay another $12,103.80 in legal fees when counsel had already been compensated the sum of $23,788.40 during the pendency of the action and the total sum amounts to a clearly excessive fee.
S-19-0533 In re Interest of A.M.
Washington County Juvenile Court, Judge C. Matthew Samuelson
Attorneys: Desirae M. Solomon (Washington County Attorney’s Office, Appellant) --- Kristine Roberts (Roberts Law Office, LLC, for Appellee)
Civil: Fees; Termination
Proceedings below: The juvenile court held the attorney fees were fair, reasonable, and proper and ordered Washington County to pay the sum of $2,325.00 to Appellee in attorney fees.
Issues: The trial court erred by finding 1) that Washington County had to pay attorney fees without evidence that the mother was unable to hire her own attorney, 2) the attorney fees earned were reasonable and necessary for the defense of the mother by ordering the County to pay another $2,325.00 in legal fees when counsel had already been compensated the sum of $35,892.20 during the pendency of the action and the total sum amounts to a clearly excessive fee, and 3) that Washington County had to pay for fees associated with the attorney collecting her fees in this matter.