Declaratory-Judgment Counterclaims Cannot Serve as Fee-Shifting Vehicles for Issues Already Joined

In CRS Mechanical v. Norfolk Cold Storage, plaintiffs moved for summary judgment to dismiss defendants' declaratory-judgment counterclaim seeking declarations that no partnership existed and that mechanic's liens were invalid. The motion challenged whether defendants' requested declarations impermissibly duplicated issues already joined by plaintiffs' breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims or sought relief regarding Nebraska real property beyond the Court's jurisdiction.