NC H687

Adds new section 6-21.6 to North Carolina General Statutes authorizing courts to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs to parties who successfully challenge city or county actions taken outside their legal authority.

Makes attorneys' fees mandatory when a court finds that the city's or county's action constituted an abuse of discretion in addition to being outside the scope of authority.

Applies to any action where a city or county is a party and the court determines the action exceeded their legal authority.

Effective October 1, 2011, and applies to claims brought or defended on or after that date.