Court Opinion

ID: 9547593
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:49:20.718475+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:17:52.864935
License: Public Domain

McFarland, J.,
dissenting: I believe it was error for the trial court to refuse to admit evidence of the actual contract of employment between Jennings-Irving and their attorney. K.S.A. 59-5104 is, in effect, a reimbursement statute for expenses and attorney fees incurred in promoting a will for admission into probate (or in successfully opposing a will). It is not intended to *441create a windfall to anyone, yet such can be the result of the holding of the majority.
Let us look at the following scenario. Prospective client goes to lawyer A for possible representation in securing probate of a will. Lawyer A states his fee would be $50.00 per hour. The same client goes to lawyer B who states his fee is $25.00 per hour. The client then enters into a contract for services with lawyer B. The matter proceeds to trial and the will is not admitted to probate. Let us further suppose on hearing for allowance of a reasonable fee, evidence is introduced attorney fees based upon $50.00 per hour are reasonable, no evidence is admitted on the contract itself, and fees are allowed based upon $50.00 per hour. For simplicity, let us say 100 hours at $50.00 is allowed for a total of $5,000.00. By statute, the client receives the fee. The client only owes $2,500.00 (50%) of the amount to this attorney by contract. The client pays $2,500.00 to the attorney. The attorney sues the client for the $2,500.00 balance of fees awarded by the court. The attorney has already received all attorney fees for which he has contracted. Should the attorney receive twice the fee he contracted for or should the client receive a $2,500.00 windfall from the decedent’s estate?
Let us change the facts in the above scenario somewhat. Lawyer A offers to represent the client for $50.00 per hour. Lawyer B says he will take the case on a contingent fee basis— stating that this protects the client from owing any attorney fees if there is no recovery. The client retains lawyer B. The case is lost and attorney fees based upon $50.00 per hour are allowed by the court, without evidence of the contingency fee contract. Again, who gets the windfall-client or attorney?
Let us further assume, in both scenarios, the prospective client would have much preferred lawyer A to represent him but retains lawyer B because his services were contracted for on more favorable terms. Is it just or fair to let lawyer B end up with the same fee lawyer A offered?
The question of who should have the windfall need never be answered if the following rule is adopted. In determining attorney fees under K.S.A. 59-1504, the court should award reasonable attorney fees or attorney fees due under the contract of the parties, whichever is lower. This satisfies the intent of the statute. The client is not out of pocket and the attorney has *442received the price he bargained for or reasonable fees if he bargained for an excessive fee. If the client and the attorney made a contract at less than the “going rate,” the estate rather than the attorney or client should receive the benefit of that bargain.
I would reverse the trial court and remand the case for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed in this dissent.
Schroeder, C.J., and Holmes, J., join the foregoing dissenting opinion.