Mark L. Smith, an Alaska Resident; Smith Lighterage,company, Inc., an Alaska Corporation, Plaintiffs-appellees, v. Aon Risk Services, Inc., A/k/a and D/b/a Rollins Hudig Hallof Washington, Inc.; Gale's Tendering Services,an Alaska Partnership; James R. Johnsonand Gale F. Johnson, Alaskaresidents, Defendants,androyal Insurance Company of America; John Deere Insurancecompany; International Specialty, Inc.; Greatamerican Insurance Company, Defendants-appellants, 131 F.3d 148 (9th Cir. 1997)

MEMORANDUM^* 

The Royal Insurance Company of America and other insurers (collectively, "Underwriters") appeal the district court's order awarding attorneys fees and costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) to Mark Smith and Smith Lighterage Company (collectively, "Smith"). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

We review the district court's award of attorneys fees and costs under 28 U.S.C § 1447(c) for an abuse of discretion. See Moore v. Permanente Med. Group, Inc., 981 F.2d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 1992). We review de novo whether section 1447(c) authorizes an award of attorneys fees and costs. See Baddie v. Berkeley Farms, Inc., 64 F.3d 487, 490 (9th Cir. 1995).

Underwriters contend that the district court erred as a matter of law and abused its discretion when it awarded attorneys fees and costs to Smith because section 1447(c) does not authorize an award of fees or costs when the initial removal was proper. We disagree.

"An order remanding the case may require payment of just costs and any actual expenses, including attorney fees, incurred as a result of the removal." 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). All defendants must join in a removal petition. See 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a); Ely Valley Mines, Inc. v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 644 F.2d 1310, 1314 (9th Cir. 1981).

Here, Underwriters removed the case to federal court based on diversity of citizenship. However, Aon Risk Services, a defendant in the state action, did not join in Underwriters' removal petition. Thus, section 1447(c) authorized an award of attorney fees and costs incurred in conjunction with the remand because the initial removal was improper. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1446(b) & 1447(c). Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion by awarding attorneys fees and costs. See Moore, 981 F.2d at 447.

AFFIRMED.