AMERICAN RULE

American rule. 1. The general policy that all litigants, even the prevailing one, must bear their

own  attorney’s  fees.  •  The  rule  is  subject  to  bad-faith  and  other  statutory  and  contractual

exceptions. Cf. ENGLISH RULE. [Cases: Costs    194.16; Federal Civil Procedure    2737.1. C.J.S.

Costs § 125.] 2. The doctrine that a witness cannot be questioned on cross-examination about any

fact or circumstance not connected with the matters brought out in the direct examination. [Cases:

Witnesses    269.C.J.S. Witnesses §§ 471–476.] [Blacks Law 8th]