§ 6-21.1. Allowance of counsel fees as part of costs in certain cases.
§6‑21.1. Allowance of counsel fees as part of costs in certain cases.
In any personal injury orproperty damage suit, or suit against an insurance company under a policyissued by the defendant insurance company and in which the insured orbeneficiary is the plaintiff, upon a finding by the court that there was anunwarranted refusal by the defendant insurance company to pay the claim whichconstitutes the basis of such suit, instituted in a court of record, where thejudgment for recovery of damages is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or less, thepresiding judge may, in his discretion, allow a reasonable attorney fee to theduly licensed attorney representing the litigant obtaining a judgment fordamages in said suit, said attorney's fee to be taxed as a part of the courtcosts. (1959, c. 688; 1963, c. 1193; 1967, c. 927; 1969, c.786; 1979, c. 401; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 976.)