Meyer

*68 Opinion

The trial court awarded attorney fees to defendant Gail L. Meyer after she succeeded in moving to dismiss the action against her “on the ground of inconvenient forum.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 418.10, subd. (a)(2).) Plaintiff PNEC Corporation (PNEC) appeals the postdismissal attorney fee award, claiming (1) a party is never entitled to contractual attorney fees under Civil Code section 1717 for successfully obtaining dismissal of an action on the ground of forum non conveniens; and (2) even if an attorney fee award is generally authorized in these circumstances, the amount awarded in this case ($21,677.25) was unreasonable because it included fees incurred working on aspects of the case other than forum non conveniens. We affirm the court’s order.

FACTS

In November 2008, PNEC filed a complaint against Meyer and other defendants (one corporation and two other individuals). PNEC alleged it provided defendants with “certain refined petroleum products” for which defendants failed to pay. The complaint included causes of action for breach of contract, open book account, account stated, goods sold and delivered, and breach of guaranty. Only the fifth cause of action, breach of…