§ 308-a. Fees and expenses in certain private nuisance actions. 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
a. "Action" means any civil action brought by a person in which a private nuisance is alleged to be due to an agricultural practice on any land in an agricultural district or subject to agricultural assessments pursuant to section three hundred three or three hundred six of this article, respectively.
b. "Fees and other expenses" means the reasonable expenses of expert witnesses, the reasonable cost of any study, analysis, consultation with experts, and like expenses, and reasonable attorney fees, including fees for work performed by law students or paralegals under the supervision of an attorney, incurred in connection with the defense of any cause of action for private nuisance which is alleged as part of a civil action brought by a person.
c. "Final judgment" means a judgment that is final and not appealable, and settlement.
d. "Prevailing party" means a defendant in a civil action brought by a person, in which a private nuisance is alleged to be due to an agricultural practice, where the defendant prevails in whole or in substantial part on the private nuisance cause of action.
2. Fees and other expenses in certain private nuisance actions. a. When awarded. In addition to costs, disbursements and additional allowances awarded pursuant to sections eight thousand two hundred one through eight thousand two hundred four and eight thousand three hundred one through eight thousand three hundred three-a of the civil practice law and rules, and except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall award to a prevailing party, other than the plaintiff, fees and other expenses incurred by such party in connection with the defense of any cause of action for private nuisance alleged to be due to an agricultural practice, provided such agricultural practice constitutes a sound agricultural practice pursuant to an opinion issued by the commissioner under section three hundred eight of this article, prior to the start of any trial of the action or settlement of such action, unless the court finds that the position of the plaintiff was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. Fees shall be determined pursuant to prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of the services furnished, except that fees and expenses may not be awarded to a party for any portion of the litigation in which the party has unreasonably protracted the proceedings.
b. Application for fees. A party seeking an award of fees and other expenses shall, within thirty days of final judgment in the action, submit to the court an application which sets forth (i) the facts supporting the claim that the party is a prevailing party and is eligible to receive an award under this section, (ii) the amount sought, and (iii) an itemized statement from every attorney or expert witness for which fees or expenses are sought stating the actual time expended and the rate at which such fees and other expenses are claimed.
3. Interest. If the plaintiff appeals an award made pursuant to this section and the award is affirmed in whole or in part, interest shall be paid on the amount of the award. Such interest shall run from the date of the award through the day before the date of the affirmance.
4. Applicability. a. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to alter or modify the provisions of the civil practice law and rules where applicable to actions other than actions as defined by this section.
b. Nothing contained in this section shall affect or preclude the right of any party to recover fees or other expenses authorized by common law or by any other statute, law or rule.
