Case ID: ny-super-ct_61/html/0457-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Court (Per Curiam)", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

THOMAS S. BASSFORD, Respondent v. CHARLES H. WHITE, Appellant.
    
      Contract for attorney's services—Compensation based upon results of litigation—Measure of damages tvhere retainer of attorney is revoked by client before services are completed. ■ Plaintiff was retained by defendant in certain street opening proceedings affecting defendant's premises, to diminish the assessment and increase the award, plaintiff to receive one-fourth of the amount saved, as contingent compensation. After plaintiff had taken certain steps, but before the hearing by the commissioners, defendant revoked plaintiff's authority and employed another attorney. Held, that plaintiff was entitled to recover one-fourth of the amount saved to defendant by the proceedings, being the agreed compensation, less the fair value of the services and disbursements necessary to complete the plaintiff's undertaking, after his authority was revoked.
    
    Before Freedman, P. J., Dugro and Gildersleeve, JJ.
    
      Decided July 5, 1892.
    Appeal by defendant from judgment entered in favor of plaintiff upon the decision of a judge after trial of the issues without a jury. The action was to recover the contract price of certain legal services which plaintiff agreed to render, but ivas prevented from fully performing the same by the revocation of his authority by defendant prior to the completion of the legal proceedings in question.
    
      James C. De La Mare, for appellant.
    
      Ernest Hall, for respondent.
   The Court (Per Curiam)

approved the rule of damages applied the court (McAdam, J.) as stated in head note. Judgment affirmed, with costs.