FOUR SEASONS HOMEOWNERS ASS'N v. Sellers

ARNOLD, Judge. In the order awarding additional attorneys’ fees, the trial court found that plaintiffs attorney had expended 63.9 hours since 11 March 1982 in connection with the four actions against defendants; that these services included conferences, preparation of the record on appeal and brief, preparation for and appearance at oral argument in the Court of Appeals, review of appellate decisions, preparation of motion for attorneys’ fees and responding to defendants’ petitions. The trial court concluded that the reasonable value of these services is not less than $4,480; and that this amount should be divided equally among the four actions. Each defendant was therefore ordered to pay additional attorneys’ fees of $1,120. Defendants first argue that the trial court committed error in striking from their proposed record on appeal ninety-six pages of pleadings and transcripts in the earlier actions between the parties. All material necessary for a determination of this appeal has been filed in prior appeals before this Court. Since our appellate courts may take judicial notice of their own records and review the chronology of litigation, see Appeal of McLean Trucking Co., Winston-Salem, 285 N.C. 552, 557, 206 S.E. 2d 172, 176 (1974); In re Williamson, 67 N.C. App. 184, 185, 312 S.E. 2d 239, 240 (1984), the trial court did not commit reversible error in striking portions of the prior litigation from the present record on appeal. Defendants next argue that the award of additional attorneys’ fees was error, since the award was in excess of that allowed by G.S. 6-21.2 and since there was no evidence that plaintiff complied with the notice provisions of this statute. Plaintiff responds that this Court previously determined that G.S. 6-21.2 was inapplicable; and that defendants were obligated to pay reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to covenants running with defendants’ land. *191 In our earlier opinion we affirmed the allowance of attorneys’ fees to plaintiff, indicating that the following covenant clearly provided for collection of attorneys’ fees and was enforceable against defendants since it ran with their land: In order to secure payment of the annual and special assessments hereinabove provided, such charges as may be levied by the Association against the Lot(s), together with interest, costs of collection and reasonable attorneys fees, shall be a charge on the land and shall be a continuing lien upon the property against which each such assessment or charge is made. Each such assessment, together with interest, costs of collection and reasonable attorneys fees shall also be the personal obligation of the person who is the Owner of such Lot at the time when the assessment fell due. Homeowners Assoc., 62 N.C. App. at 211-212, 302 S.E. 2d at 853. In reaching our decision, we noted that defendants had failed to except to the findings of fact and conclusions of law in the judgments awarding plaintiff attorneys’ fees. On appeal, defendants had merely argued that attorneys’ fees were not recoverable, because defendants were not parties to the declaration of covenants. They did not raise the applicability of G.S. 6-21.2. Since our courts, however, have consistently refused to sustain an award of attorneys’ fees except when expressly authorized by statute, our earlier decision to uphold the award of attorneys’ fees implies that the covenant providing for the collection of attorneys’ fees was authorized by statute. See Enterprises, Inc. v. Equipment Co., 300 N.C. 286, 266 S.E. 2d 812 (1980). G.S. 6-21.2 provides in pertinent part: Obligations to pay attorneys’ fees upon any note, conditional sale contract or other evidence of indebtedness, in addition to the legal rate of interest or finance charges specified therein, shall be valid and enforceable, and collectible as part of such debt, if such note, contract or other evidence of indebtedness be collected by or through an attorney at law after maturity, subject to the following provisions: (2) If such note, conditional sale contract or other evidence of indebtedness provides for the payment of *192 reasonable attorneys’ fees by the debtor, without specifying any specific percentage, such provision shall be construed to mean fifteen percent (15%) of the “outstanding balance” owing on said note, contract or other evidence of indebtedness. Our Supreme Court has examined G.S. 6-21.2 and the legislative history of the statute and concluded: [W]e hold that the term “evidence of indebtedness” as used in G.S. 6-21.2 has reference to any printed or written instrument, signed or otherwise executed by the obligor(s), which evidences on its face a legally enforceable obligation to pay money. Such a definition, we believe, does no violence to any of the statute’s specific provisions and accords well with its general purpose to validate a debt collection remedy expressly agreed upon by contracting parties. Enterprises, Inc., 300 N.C. at 294, 266 S.E. 2d at 817-18 (1980). See also Coastal Production Credit v. Goodson Farms, 70 N.C. App. 221, 319 S.E. 2d 650 (1984). In the matter before us the “evidence of indebtedness” is the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Four Seasons subdivision. Therein defendants, as owners of lots in the subdivision, personally obligated themselves to pay maintenance fees in return for a nonexclusive right and easement of enjoyment in the common areas of the subdivision. Defendants agreed to secure payment with a lien upon their lots in the amount of the due assessments. Defendants further agreed to pay reasonable attorneys’ fees if the due assessments were collected through an attorney. Pursuant to G.S. 6-21.2(2), defendants were therefore liable for attorneys’ fees in the amount of 15% of the “outstanding balance” owing on the evidence of indebtedness. The record on appeal in our prior decision shows that defendant Sellers was ordered to pay assessments of $675.88 and attorneys’ fees of $250.00. Defendant Simpson was ordered to pay assessments of $798.76 plus attorneys’ fees of $250. Defendants Dial and wife were ordered to pay assessments of $164.45 and attorneys’ fees of $24.66. Defendant Jordan was ordered to pay assessments of $239.59 and $35.95 in attorneys’ fees. The fees assessed against defendants Dial and Jordan amounted to 15% of *193 their outstanding balances. The other two defendants were ordered to pay fees in excess of 15%. As we earlier noted, however, defendants assigned error to these awards solely on the basis that they were not parties to the covenant providing for collection of attorneys’ fees. They did not raise any issue regarding the applicability of G.S. 6-21.2, and our affirmation of these prior awards is res judicata. The order directing each defendant to pay additional attorneys’ fees of $1,120, however, is prohibited by statute and must be Reversed. Judges WELLS and BectON concur.