Attorney's fees.

Under existing law, parties to actions or proceedings are entitled to their costs, as specified. Except to the extent attorney's fees are specifically provided for by statute, the measure and mode of compensation of attorneys and counselors at law is left to the agreement, express or implied, of the parties. Existing law provides that a prevailing party is entitled, as a matter of right, to recover costs in any action or proceeding, including attorney's fees, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. This bill would require the court, in setting the amount of an award of attorney's fees to a prevailing party, to determine a lodestar, as defined, and an adjustment pursuant to specified procedures.