Cases: Retainer Agreements

Retainer Agreement: Invalidity Of Attorney Lien Provision Does Not Invalidate Attempts To Recover For Breach Of Retainer Agreement Or Recover Fees Under Contractual Fees Clause

Cases: Retainer Agreements

  Failure to Appeal Fee Order Was Dispositive, But Invalidity Ruling Was Back Up Reason Fee Recovery Was Allowable Anyway.      In Pierson v. Burlison, Case No. B244908 (2d Dist., Div. 4 Jan. 22, 2014) (unpublished), the appellate court decided two things of interest in the retainer agreement/fee areas: (1) an invalid attorney’s lien

POOF!/Retainer Agreements: Although Attorney’s Retainers Had Unlawful Provisions, Attorney Did Not Seek To Enforce Them, With Disgorgement Of Previously Paid Fees Reversed

Cases: POOF!, Cases: Retainer Agreements

  Appellate Court Also Reversed and Remanded Fee Award Against Attorney in Light of Disgorgement Reversal.      This next case, Fleischman v. Stanton, Case No. B216898 (2d Dist., Div. 8 Nov. 19, 2013) (unpublished), is a wild one involving an ex-attorney whose retainer agreement was voided as well as having the trial judge ordering him

Probate/Retainer Agreements: Deceased Attorney Entitled To Contingency Fee Recovery, After His Death, Where Retainer Agreement Specified Work Could Be Delegated To Other Attorneys

Cases: Probate, Cases: Retainer Agreements

  Because Contingency Related to Work for Beneficiaries Apart from Estate Benefits, No Compliance Necessary With Probate Code Court Approval Requirements.      Okay, readers, here is an interesting cross-over case involving probate, retainer agreements, and contingency awards. The case is Sare v. Shad, Case No. C069573 (3d Dist. July 31, 2013) (unpublished).      In this

Retainer Agreements/Special Fee Shifting Statutes: Fee Agreement Directing Payment To Attorneys Given Deference In Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act Case

Cases: Retainer Agreements, Cases: Special Fee Shifting Statutes

  Retainer Agreement Trumped Everything.      USA v. $186,416.00 in U.S. Currency, Case No. 07-56549 (9th Cir. July 17, 2013) (for publication) shows that fee agreements directing payment of fees to attorneys from a collective perspective can and do make a difference.      In this one, a suspended California corporation had assigned collection of fees

Liens For Attorneys Fee/Retainer Agreement: Triable Issue Of Fact Required Reversal of Summary Judgment Where Evidence Demonstrated Existence Of Retainer Agreement Should Be Decided By Trier Of Fact

Cases: Liens for Attorney Fees, Cases: Retainer Agreements

  If Second Retainer Agreement Signed By Client, Attorneys Lien Did Exist.      Majlessi v. Parman, Case No. B241063 (2d Dist., Div. 3 July 12, 2013) (unpublished) is a case where the lower court granted summary judgment across the board when a discharged personal injury attorney sued successor attorneys to honor an attorneys’ lien in

Appealability/Retainer Agreements: Longstanding Client-Attorney Dispute On Appeal Dismissed When Superior Court Orders New Arbitration Rehearing

Cases: Appealability, Cases: Retainer Agreements

  Also, Clues Offered on Unlawful Retainer Agreement Arbitration Clauses.      Weissman Wolff et al. v. Singh, Case No. B240550 (2d Dist., Div. 7 May 28, 2013) (unpublished) is a longstanding–if not long running–dispute between an ex-client and ex-attorneys. It teaches two lessons:      1. One, from an earlier appeal, is that a retainer agreement

Deadlines/Retainer Agreements: Attorney’s Amendment According To Proof On Fourth Day Of Trial Is Abuse Of Discretion When Based On Much Different Fee Exposure And Different Fee Retainer Provision

Cases: Deadlines, Cases: Retainer Agreements

  Delay and Prejudice Were Key Factors to Reversal of the Amendment Grant.      California litigation practitioners know that pleading amendments are generally liberally granted, although that liberality gets tightened when the requests are made closer to or during trial. The next case is one where an amendment grant four days into a jury trial

Retainer Agreements: Client Losing Fees Of $18,000 To Attorney On Cross-Complaint Lost Arbitration And Billing Statement Challenges

Cases: Retainer Agreements

       In Gao v. Lin, Case No. B236041 (2d Dist., Div. 4 Oct. 19, 2012) (unpublished), client lost his malpractice action, but attorney recovered $18,000 on his cross-complaint for unpaid fees, even though the trial court reduced the requested $23,562 based on duplicative work and inefficiencies.      Client’s challenges to the fees award were

Retainer Agreement: Unclear Retention Agreement Resulted In Affirmance Of $13,333 Disgorgement Damages Award and Additional Fee/Costs Award Of $21,102 In Favor Of Criminal Defendant

Cases: Retainer Agreements

  Post-Execution Intent Evidence Deemed Irrelevant.      The next decision, Martinez v. Contreras, Case No. B231471 (2d Dist., Div. 4 Aug. 23, 2012) (unpublished), is a sobering reminder for all practitioners–not just criminal practitioners–of clearly defining the scope of services and payment arrangements at each step of the way. Criminal defense attorneys, we are sure,

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