Lonoke County, Arkansas; Lonoke County Judge Doug Erwin; and Lonoke County Quorum Court Members Joe Farrer, Jannette…

Summary

The court held that the County remained bound by the 1991 agreed order requiring it to pay its proportionate share of the Lonoke District Court's expenses, because the later statutory amendment preserved the existing payment arrangement. It therefore affirmed the writ of mandamus. The court reversed the attorney-fee award because the City prevailed in a mandamus action rather than a breach-of-contract action, and no applicable statute authorized fees. Justice Baker, joined by Justice Goodson, would have vacated the writ, while Justice Danielson concurred and urged legislative clarification.