Attorney fees in certain actions

40-908. Attorney fees in certain actions. That in all actions now pending, or hereafter commenced in which judgment is rendered against any insurance company on any policy given to insure any property in this state against loss by fire, tornado, lightning or hail, the court in rendering such judgment shall allow the plaintiff a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee for services in such action including proceeding upon appeal to be recovered and collected as a part of the costs: Provided, however, That when a tender is made by such insurance company before the commencement of the action in which judgment is rendered and the amount recovered is not in excess of such tender no such costs shall be allowed. History: L. 1927, ch. 231, 40-908; L. 1929, ch. 199, § 1; L. 1967, ch. 257, § 2; July 1. Source or prior law: L. 1893, ch. 102, § 33; L. 1897, ch. 142, § 4; L. 1911, ch. 205, § 1; R.S. 1923, 40-228, 40-416. Cross References to Related Sections: Allowance of attorney fees in other insurance cases, see 40-256, 40-3111, 40-3113a, 40-3114. Law Review and Bar Journal References: 1957-59 survey of insurance law, Charles H. Oldfather, Jr., 8 K. L. R. 308 (1959). Holding by federal district court that section repealed by implication noted in survey of law of insurance, Charles H. Oldfather, Jr., 10 K. L. R. 249 (1961). "Recovery of Attorney Fees in Kansas," Mark A. Furney, 18 W.L.J. 535, 548, 553, 559 (1979). "Torts—Insurance—First Party Bad Faith-Is There an Adequate Remedy in Kansas After Spencer v. Aetna Life & Casualty Insurance Co.?" Karen S. Kressin, 29 K.L.R. 277, 281, 285 (1981). "Unfair Claims Settlements—A Suggested Approach to a Potential Cause of Action," Gene E. Schroer and Paul H. Hulsey, 5 J.K.T.L.A. No. 4, 8, 13 (1982). "New Developments in Kansas Insurance Law," Robert H. Jerry II, 37 K.L.R. 841, 843 (1989). "Plaintiff's Guide To Court Awarded Attorney Fees," Gerald W. Scott and Mark A. Scott, J.K.T.L.A. Vol. XVII, No. 6, 4, 8 (1994). "An Update to Consumer's Guide to Court-Awarded Attorney Fees," Mark A. Scott, J.K.T.L.A. Vol. XXII, No. 1, 7 (1998). "Settlements and Verdicts," Robin Maxon, J.K.T.L.A. Vol. 24, No. 5, 19 (2001). "Special Committee on Judiciary Prepares for 2006 Legislative Session," James W. Clark, 74 J.K.B.A. No. 10, 22 (2005). "Legislative Wrap-Up," Callie Hartle, J.K.T.L.A. Vol. 30, No. 6, 16 (2007). "Lee Builders: A New Attorney's Fee Bonanza?," Timothy J. Finnerty, K.D.J. Winter (2007). CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Provision allowing attorney's fees held constitutional. Assurance Co. v. Bradford, 60 Kan. 82, 55 P. 335. 2. Attorney's fees; when not recoverable against foreign insurance company. Ring v. Assurance Co., 100 Kan. 351, 344, 164 P. 303. 3. Attorney's fee of $350 held reasonable. Clark v. Insurance Co., 105 Kan. 728, 732, 185 P. 1056. 4. Mutual indemnity association; attorney's fees properly allowed. Stanley v. Indemnity Association, 11 Kan. 412, 417, 210 P. 1096. 5. Court may consider labor, time, extent of services, importance of litigation. Boberg v. Fitchburg Mutual Fire Ins. Co., 127 Kan. 787, 792, 275 P. 211. 6. Section is constitutional and valid. Insurance Co. v. Warbritton, 66 Kan. 93, 71 P. 278. 7. Amount of fees is not question for jury. Insurance Co. v. Corbett, 69 Kan. 564, 571, 77 P. 108. Modified: 81 Kan. 209, 105 P. 7. 8. Amount of fees is to be determined by court. Insurance Co. v. Stahl, 78 Kan. 528, 96 P. 854. 9. Fees in action on policy insuring against loss of rent. Syndicate Co. v. Insurance Co., 85 Kan. 367, 116 P. 620. 10. Court may hear evidence and allow fees after verdict. Grocery Co. v. Insurance Co., 92 Kan. 336, 140 P. 853. 11. Fees not allowed to attorney for the losing company. Mortgage Co. v. Insurance Co., 97 Kan. 190, 155 P. 17. 12. Fee of $350 held not excessive. Clark v. Insurance Co., 105 Kan. 728, 185 P. 1056. 13. Court may properly allow a reasonable attorney's fee to plaintiff. Fuller v. Fire Insurance Co., 117 Kan. 282, 285, 231 P. 53. 14. Court may consider labor, time, trouble in allowance of attorney fees. Boberg v. Fitchburg Mutual Fire Ins. Co., 127 Kan. 787, 792, 275 P. 211. 15. Court may allow attorney fee; $500 held not excessive. Republic Mutual Fire Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 128 Kan. 323, 329, 278 P. 48. 16. Attorney's fees to be collected in actions on insurance policies are not part of costs referred to in L. 1915, ch. 187, § 1. Gants v. National Fire Ins. Co., 127 Kan. 251, 273 P. 406. 17. Attorney fee is statutory right; amount discussed. Republic Mutual Fire Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 128 Kan. 323, 278 P. 48. 18. Fee properly allowed where statute became effective while action pending. Light v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 132 Kan. 486, 489, 296 P. 701. 19. Tender after action commenced does not defeat allowance of attorney fee. Phoenix Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Central States Fire Ins. Co., 137 Kan. 69, 74, 19 P.2d 696. 20. Cited in allowing attorney fee. Bussell v. Mennonite Mutual Fire Ins. Co., 137 Kan. 542, 546, 21 P.2d 308. 21. District court cannot allow fee for appeal to supreme court. Geselle v. American Home Fire Assur. Co., 146 Kan. 138, 142, 68 P.2d 1097. 22. Attorney fee allowed held excessive and reduced; purpose of section. Lattner v. Federal Union Ins. Co., 160 Kan. 472, 480, 163 P.2d 389. 23. Tender made after action commenced; allowance of attorney's fee not affected. Osborn v. Wheat Growers Mutual Hail Ins. Co., 175 Kan. 235, 237, 239, 263 P.2d 214. 24. Failure to prove damages in excess of amount confessed; fee disallowed. Lambert v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 178 Kan. 533, 534, 289 P.2d 1057. 25. K.S.A. 40-256 did not repeal this section by implication; construed. Ferrellgas Corporation v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 187 Kan. 530, 534, 535, 358 P.2d 786. But see, Annotation 28, post. 26. Applied; insured's house situated on another's property held "improvement upon real property." Magrath v. Mechanics & Traders Insurance Company, 249 F.2d 98, 99, 100. 27. Attorney fees disallowed where judgment against explosion insurer; type of loss controls. Millers' Nat. Ins. Co., Chicago, Ill. v. Wichita Flour M. Co., 257 F.2d 93, 94, 95, 102. 28. Section held repealed by implication by K.S.A. 40-256. Smart v. Hardware Dealers Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 181 F. Supp. 575, 576, 577. But see, Ferrellgas Corporation v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 187 Kan. 530, 358 P.2d 786. 29. Allowance of attorney fees denied in action for tortious breach of contract. Grohusky v. Atlas Assurance Co., 195 Kan. 626, 633, 408 P.2d 697. 30. Under provisions of statute recovery by city of attorney fees held proper. Iowa National Mut. Ins. Co. v. City of Osawatomie, Kansas, 458 F.2d 1124, 1129, 1130. 31. Mentioned; question moot where judgment entered for insurer. Mah v. United State Fire Ins. Co. 218 Kan. 583, 589, 545 P.2d 366. 32. Tort of bad faith not recognized in Kansas. Spencer v. Aetna Life & Casualty Ins. Co., 227 Kan. 914, 923, 611 P.2d 149. 33. Not error to allow attorney fees when judgment in excess of settlement offer tendered. Thomas v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 233 Kan. 775, 780, 666 P.2d 676 (1983). 34. Award of attorney fees at trial not abuse of discretion; additional fees awarded for appeal. Hochman v. American Family Ins. Co., 9 Kan. App. 2d 151, 154, 155, 673 P.2d 1200 (1984). 35. Fixing of fair and reasonable attorney fees is duty of judge; award of appellate fees mandatory; enactment of K.S.A. 40-256 did not by implication repeal K.S.A. 40-908. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Liggett, 236 Kan. 120, 130, 689 P.2d 187 (1984). 36. Cited; failure to provide private remedies in Kansas uniform trade practices act (K.S.A. 40-2401 et seq.) implies no private remedy intended. Earth Scientists v. United States Fidelity & Guar., 619 F. Supp. 1465, 1471 (1985). 37. Section construed; reasonable attorney fees allowed. Boyd Motors, Inc. v. Employers Ins. of Wausau, 766 F. Supp. 998 (1991). 38. Discussion of when attorney fees recoverable. Cann v. Farmers Ins. Co., 17 Kan. App. 2d 869, 871, 872, 845 P.2d 710 (1993). 39. Cited where holder of security interest in personal property granted coverage as mortgage holder under loss-payee clause. Union State Bank v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 18 Kan. App. 2d 466, 478, 856 P.2d 174 (1993). 40. Award of attorney fees reversed where award not authorized by section. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Maish, 21 Kan. App. 2d 885, 905, 908 P.2d 1329 (1995). 41. Insurance policy, not actual type of loss governs determination of statutory allowance for attorney fees under section. Hamilton v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 263 Kan. 875, 878, 953 P.2d 1027 (1998). 42. Section applies to any case in which judgment is rendered on any policy given to insure against loss by fire, tornado, lightning or hail, although damage was not caused by such causes. Lee Builders, Inc. v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 33 Kan. App. 2d 504, 104 P.3d 997 (2005). 43. Statute applies to liability claim where judgment rendered on any policy that insures against fire, tornado, lightning or hail. Lee Builders, Inc. v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 281 Kan. 844, 137 P.3d 486 (2006). 44. District court had authority to grant attorney fees and expertise in the area, no abuse of discretion. Wenrich v. Employees Mut. Ins. Co., 35 Kan. App. 2d 582, 596, 132 P.3d 970 (2006). 45. Insured's entitlement to fees hinges on judgment being rendered against the insurer. Advantage Homebuilding, LLC v. Maryland Cas. Co., 470 F.3d 1003, 1014 (10th Cir. 2006). 46. Attorney fees awarded including appellate attorney fees and costs. Snider v. American Family Ins. Co., 45 Kan. App. 2d 196, 244 P.3d 1281 (2011). 47. In partial or limited success cases, the court may eliminate specific hours from requested fees or reduce the award to account for the limited success. Snider v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 297 Kan. 157, 298 P.3d 1120 (2013). 48. Attorney fees are allowed regardless of whether covered loss resulted from property damage or personal injury claim. Bussman v. Safeco Ins. Co. of America, 298 Kan. 700, 317 P.3d 70 (2014). 49. In case where insured brought action against insurer, seeking declaratory judgment that property insurance policy provided coverage for hail indentations on metal seam roofs of buildings owned by insured, insurer's tender under policy before commencement of action was effective to trigger exception under Kansas statute, requiring that judgment entered against insurer be in excess of its tender in order for insured to recover attorney fees. Great Plains Ventures, Inc. v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 161 F. Supp. 3d 970, 980 (D. Kan. 2016). 50. In garnishment action, judgment against insurer was on insurance policy for breach of contract and policy at issue insured property against loss by fire, tornado, lighting, or hail; trial court erred in denying attorney fees. Gruber v. Estate of Marshall, 59 Kan. App. 2d 297, 482 P.3d 612 (2021). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026