Opinion ID: 2588467
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Bernie and Linda Van Diest

Text: On January 17, 1995, the Van Diests hired Kagele to advise them in a dispute with Chicago Title Company against the Ness family. The Van Diests and Chicago Title had commenced a lawsuit against the Ness's, and the Van Diests were currently represented by an attorney, Mr. Cullen, who was being paid by Chicago Title. At the initial meeting, the Van Diests signed the fully-earned, nonrefundable retainer fee agreement, providing that they would pay Kagele $5,000, payable $3000 on 1-17-95; balance of $2000 on 3/15/96. DP at 17. They paid Kagele $3,000 at this time. Kagele entered a notice of appearance on January 25, 1995, in Van Diest and Chicago Title v. Ness and asked Mr. Cullen to withdraw. From that point on, the Van Diests only spoke with Kagele when they initiated contact with him, inquiring on the status of their case. In March 1995, the Van Diests met with Kagele, and he demanded that they pay the balance of the fee. The Van Diests did not want to pay the balance because they believed Kagele had not done any work for them at that point. On April 18, 1995, at the advice of another attorney, the Van Diests wrote Kagele a letter stating that they no longer needed his services.