Court Opinion

ID: 9582173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:23:23.712861+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:30.369657
License: Public Domain

Hall, Presiding Judge,
concurring specially. The majority opinion holds that evidence of the "contingent fee” schedule of the local bar is relevant and admissible in a quantum meruit suit. I disagree. "A contingent fee may or may not be reasonable, but it is by definition a proportionate part of a judgment recovered by the attorney for his client.” Old Equity Life Ins. Co. v. Barnard, 120 Ga. App. 596, 597 (171 SE2d 636). It is "payable by special contract out of the proceeds of the suit.” Modlin v. Smith, 13 Ga. App. 259, 264 (79 SE 82). The "happening of the contingency is a condition precedent to the right of the attorney to recovery for his services, and the precise event which was contemplated must happen.” Byrd v. Clark, 170 Ga. 669 (2) (153 SE 737). Quantum meruit is applicable where there is no contract and the attorney is merely entitled to the reasonable value of the services he has actually performed. Justice Nesbit has said that where lawyers have no special agreement there is "an implied understanding to pay them a reasonable fee.” McDonald v. Napier, 14 Ga. 89, 104. His recovery is not "for breach of contract, but is a recovery of reasonable fees in the nature of a quantum meruit . . .” Dorsey v. Edge, 75 Ga. App. 388, 392 (43 SE2d 425). It "will give him as much compensation as is fairly merited by his performance as far as it went, to be measured by the reasonable value of the benefit accru*725ing from it.” Sellers v. City of Summerville, 88 Ga. App. 109, 116 (76 SE2d 99). Quantum meruit gives him only "as much as he reasonably deserved to have for his labor.” Johnson v. Higgins-McArthur Co., 99 Ga. App. 260, 264 (108 SE2d 299).
While I believe the admission of the contingent fee testimony was error, I am of the opinion it was not harmful in light of the particular facts and verdict in the case sub judice.