When would attorney fees typically be recoverable in a breach of contract case?

Attorney fees are typically recoverable in a breach of contract case when they are specifically stated in the contract itself. Many contracts include a provision that allows the prevailing party in a dispute to recover reasonable attorney fees incurred in connection with enforcing the contract. This contractual clause is designed to ensure that if one party does not fulfill their obligations, they may be held responsible for the legal costs associated with pursuing a remedy.

In the absence of such a clause, the general rule is that each party bears its own attorney fees, which is grounded in the "American rule" regarding legal costs. Therefore, the specified provision within the contract is crucial for the recovery of these fees.