Omdahl v. West Iron County Board of Education

SAWYER, EJ.

The primary question presented in the case is whether an attorney who represents himself or herself in a proceeding under the Open Meetings Act (OMA)1 and prevails is entitled to an award of an attorney fee. Despite the general principle that a party appearing in propria persona may not receive an award of attorney fees, we hold that where that litigant is an attorney he or she is entitled to the award of attorney fees under the OMA if he or she is the prevailing party.

The trial court entered a judgment in favor of plaintiff, concluding that defendants violated the OMA for failing…