Is a plaintiff entitled to attorney fees in a postarbitration proceeding?

Section 1033.5, part of chapter 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, provides that items recoverable as costs include attorney fees when authorized by contract. ( 1033.5, subd. (a)(10)(A).) Accordingly, if the parties arbitrated a dispute pursuant to an agreement with an enforceable attorney fee provision, the successful party in postarbitration judicial proceedings is entitled to recover its attorney fees if the court determines it is the prevailing party within the meaning of Civil Code section 1717.⁴ (See Carole Ring & Associates v. Nicastro,

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