Former city employee brought action against city, alleging claims for disability discrimination and retaliation under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA).
The Circuit Court entered judgment for former employee, and city appealed.
On transfer from the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court held that:
- The MHRA did not operate to allow an award of litigation expenses as court costs to former city employee as a prevailing party, overruling Jones v. City of Kan. City, 569 S.W.3d 42, Hesse v. Mo. Dep’t of Corr., 530 S.W.3d 1, and Williams v. Trans States Airlines, Inc., 281 S.W.3d 854,
- The Circuit Court was required to determine whether litigation expenses requested were reasonable out-of-pocket expenses an attorney in the local community would have normally charged to fee-paying client, before awarding them as attorney fees; and
- Former employee was a prevailing party for purposes of an attorney fee award under the MHRA.