State of Minnesota, by Its Commissioner of Transportation v. Roger D. Krause, Below, Douglas Smith

Summary

The court held that statutory attorney fees in this condemnation action must be calculated under the lodestar method, beginning with reasonable hours multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate. A contingent-fee agreement may not support an enhancement because doing so would duplicate a factor considered in the lodestar calculation. The court affirmed the court of appeals and remanded for a recalculation supported by adequate findings.