September 29, 2004

Client hires lawyer on contingency fee in insurance dispute. Client fires lawyer and subsequently settles suit for no cash payment. Law firm seeks payment of substantial fee (under quantum meruit doctrine) even though there was no award to take a contingency share from. Held (by Second Circuit panel, overruling district judge): law firm entitled to fee unless client discharged it for good cause. Fair result? More: Blogger Beldar replies (see Oct. 5).