Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. v. Wilderness Society
United States Supreme Court
421 U.S. 240 (1975)
Relevant factsFree
Environmental groups (plaintiffs) sued to block a pipeline right-of-way, ultimately mooted by a congressional amendment authorizing the project; the court of appeals had held the litigation fell within a "common benefit" exception to the American Rule and ordered Alyeska (defendant) to pay half the plaintiffs' attorney's fees, even though no statute authorized fee-shifting.
IssueFree
Whether a prevailing litigant may collect attorney's fees from the losing litigant absent statutory authorization or a narrowly crafted judicial exception to the rule that each party bears its own fees.
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