October 05, 2004

The Texas trial lawyer takes a look at the case (see Sept. 29) of the client who got hit in the Second Circuit with a substantial quantum meruit award of legal fees after firing its contingency-fee lawyer without good cause, even though the case was later settled without cash payment. He concludes that the lawyer was probably within its rights to insist on the payment, and that it is important for clients to be warned going in of the possibly harsh consequences of dropping their lawyers without good cause.