El Dorado Meat Co. v. Yosemite Meat & Locker Service, Inc.

After securing a defense judgment on all claims in a complex suit involving alleged business torts, defendant Yosemite Meat and Locker Service, Inc. (Yosemite), obtained a costs award of $191,566. In this appeal, plaintiff El Dorado Meat Company (El Dorado) challenges $143,809 of this amount, claiming the trial court abused its discretion in awarding it. Perceiving no abuse of discretion, we affirm the judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORIES

El Dorado sued Yosemite in 2000, alleging a variety of statutory and common law causes of action, including violations of the unfair competition law (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200 et seq.), antitrust violations, civil violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) ( 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq.), and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage. The claims were based on allegations that Yosemite fraudulently sold boar meat to unsuspecting customers and reduced labor costs by employing undocumented immigrants, practices El Dorado claimed made it uncompetitive and drove it out of business. Some claims were dismissed before trial. Others, including those under RICO, were tried to a jury,…