Flangas v. State

¶1OPINION

¶2Appellant is an attorney who represented a defendant in a criminal prosecution. Before trial, the defense unsuccessfully attempted to serve a witness with a subpoena. At trial the defense sought to introduce the prior testimony of the witness. Instead of allowing introduction of the prior testimony, the court requested the state to find the witness. The witness was subsequently located and testified at trial.

¶3The trial of appellant’s client resulted in a mistrial.1 The prosecution subsequently requested the court to award the state $86.58 against appellant as costs in locating the witness. The motion was granted and this appeal followed.

¶4*627It is well settled in this jurisdiction that a court may only tax costs against a party in situations which have been specifically authorized by the legislature. In Sun Realty v. District Court, 91 Nev. 774, 776, 542 P.2d 1072, 1074 (1975), we held: “It is the established law of this state that costs, not being recoverable at common law, may be allowed only pursuant to the express authority of statute or rule. Dearden v. Galli, 71 Nev. 199, 284 P.2d 384 (1955).” See also, Dixon v. District Court, 44 Nev. 98, 101, 190 P. 352, 353 (1920); McKenzie v. Coslett, 28 Nev. 220, 80 P. 1070 (1905).

¶5NRS 18.005 et seq., establish the statutory scheme by which a party can recoup its expenses.2 NRS 18.020 lists several types of cases in which costs must be allowed. A criminal prosecution is not one of the types of cases specified under the statute.

¶6NRS 18.050 sets forth additional rules by which a litigant may recover some or all of his expenses. A careful examination of that section as a whole, however, leads to the conclusion that it refers only to recovery against parties, not their attorneys. In State v. Baker and Josephs, 35 Nev. 300, 311, 129 P. 452, 455 (1912), we observed that statutes pertaining to costs must be strictly construed. Because NRS 18.050 does not explicitly authorize a district court to assess costs against an attorney representing a criminal defendant, we hold that the section does not apply in this case.

¶7Respondent has failed to establish any statutory basis permitting the district court to impose costs personally against appellant Flangas. Accordingly, the order directing appellant to pay $86.58 is reversed.