Judgment Enforcement: Enforcement Of Canadian Judgment In California State Courts Reminds Us That Attorney’s Fees Awarded In A Foreign Court Are Compensatory In Nature

They Are Not Penal, So Recognition Of The Award In California Is Proper.

               Racicot v. Wiseau Studio, LLC, Case No. B334219 (2d Dist., Dif. 3 Apr. 30, 2025) (unpublished) is a situation where a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge domesticated a $1,089,010.16 Canadian judgment under the Uniform Foreign-County Money Judgments Recognition Act, Civ. Code, § 1713 et seq.  In doing so, the opinion reminded everyone that foreign orders requiring a party to pay attorney’s fees are compensatory, not penal in nature, so that they are generally recognized under the Act.  (See Java Oil, Ltd. v. Sullivan, 168 Cal.App.4^th 1178, 1188-1189 (2008).)