Opinion ID: 1657404
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: existence of written contract

Text: Nor can we say that the chancery court's Finding of Fact 11 was clearly erroneous. There, the chancellor found that Mobley had shown attorney Ike Allen Laws the contract between Harmon's professional association and Legacy Lodges, and based on seeing that contract, Laws delivered two checks made payable to Legacy Lodges and to Harmon to satisfy the obligation of Robinson and Darr. This issue has been largely addressed in the previous point. Again, the crux of this matter is a credibility question entrusted to the chancellor. Laws's testimony was contradicted by Mobley and corporation president James R. Williams, who stated flatly at trial that I am certain that I never signed a contract with Mr. Harmon.... In an affidavit in support of a post-trial motion to reconsider the judgment or grant a new trial, Williams again denied that he ever signed a contract with Harmon. The chancery court clearly found Laws and Harmon to be more credible. Harmon did represent Legacy Lodges up through the appeal in Darr v. Legacy Lodges, Inc. An attorney who appears in court is presumed to be authorized to represent the client. Potter v. First National Bank, 292 Ark. 74, 728 S.W.2d 167 (1987); Pender v. McKee, 266 Ark. 18, 582 S.W.2d 929 (1979). Even if Harmon merely guessed he was re-employed in 1987, Legacy Lodges provided him with every reason to make that assumption. There is not a shred of evidence that Legacy Lodges did not want Harmon to proceed with the case in 1987; indeed, the indications are that Harmon was urged to forge ahead with the trial of the matter and then to protect the corporation's interest in the appeal. The appellants further contend that Harmon made binding admissions in which he disavowed any interestpersonal, financial, or legalin the lawsuit, as opposed to his professional association, and that he, accordingly, is not entitled to the fee. This argument was not presented to the chancery court in this form, and we will not consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal or where a ruling from the trial court has not been obtained. See Viking Insurance Co. v. Jester, 310 Ark. 317, 836 S.W.2d 371 (1992); Gatlin v. Gatlin, 306 Ark. 146, 811 S.W.2d 761 (1991).