Nautilus Marine Enterprises, Inc. v. Exxon Mobil Corporation & Exxon Shipping Co.

OPINION

MAASSEN, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

The superior court issued a declaratory judgment interpreting a settlement agreement between Nautilus Marine Enterprises (Nautilus) and Exxon, 1 then decided that Exxon was the prevailing party. Nautilus appeals the ensuing awards of attorney fees and costs as excessive. It focuses particularly on the out-of-state hourly billing rates that the superior court accepted, the number of hours billed, and the court's imposition of a fee enhancement and sanction. Nautilus also contests the court's determination of prevailing party status, its award of costs,…