Reyes-Gonzalez

INTRODUCTION

Gustavo Reyes-Gonzalez appeals from the trial court’s order denying in part his motion to tax costs requested by Color Marble Inc. after the court entered judgment in favor of Color Marble. Reyes-Gonzalez argues that, because Color Marble’s offer to compromise under Code of Civil Procedure section 998 was unreasonable and not in good faith, the trial court erred in awarding Color Marble more than $90,000 in expert fees.1 He also argues that, even if the court did not err in awarding expert fees under section 998, the court erred in awarding fees for work one of the experts performed before Color Marble made its offer to compromise and in awarding the full amount of fees Color Marble requested. Reyes-Gonzalez also challenges, on a variety of grounds, the court’s ruling on nearly every other category of costs the court awarded. Some of Reyes-Gonzalez’s arguments have merit. In particular, the trial court erred in failing to tax the following costs: $1,457.50 in expert witness fees; $289.45 in jury fees; $3,508.30 in deposition costs; $38,226.97 in court reporter fees; $26,678.10 for models, exhibits, and photocopies; and $7,418.95 for electronic filing and service. The…