Case Name: JOHN HOPPER, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR, v. JAMES LUDLUM, DEFENDANT IN ERROR
Court: New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1879-03
Citations: 41 N.J.L. 182
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOHN HOPPER, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR, v. JAMES LUDLUM, DEFENDANT IN ERROR.
Judges: For affirmance — The Chancellor, Chief Justice, Dalrimple, Depue, Knapp, Scudder, Woodhull, Clement, Dodd, Green, Lilly — 11.
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 41
Pages: 182–183

Head Matter:
JOHN HOPPER, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR, v. JAMES LUDLUM, DEFENDANT IN ERROR.
Counsel fees cannot be recovered by action, unless a contract fixing the; amount can be shown.
On error.
For the plaintiff in error, A. B. Woodruff.,
For the defendant in error, A. 8. Jaclcson.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Beasley, Chief Justice.
This was a suit by a counselor at law for his counsel fees. At the trial, a non-suit was ordered, the judge who presided assigning as his ground of action, " a rule of law which says that no counsel can maintain a suit against his client for counsel fees, unless he can show an express agreement upon the part of that client to pay a specific fee that is fixed upon as the counsel fee."
This, as ifc'seems to me, was a correct exposition of the law as it has always existed and been understood in this state. Such is the rule embodied in the decisions of our courts; but it is not ne9essary for me to review these decisions, or to express, with any degree of elaboration, my views upon the subject, as I have so recently had occasion to do this in the case of Schomp v. Schenck, 11 Vroom 195.
I think the judgment should be affirmed.
For affirmance — The Chancellor, Chief Justice, Dalrimple, Depue, Knapp, Scudder, Woodhull, Clement, Dodd, Green, Lilly — 11.
For reversal — None.