Hartford Casualty Insurance v. J.R. Marketing, L.L.C.

LIU, J.,

Concurring. — “From the very nature of equity, a wide play is left to the conscience of the chancellor in formulating his decrees, that justice may be effectually carried out.” (Bechtel v. Wier (1907) 152 Cal. 443, 446 [93 P. 75].) Carrying out justice in this fee dispute is perhaps easier said than done, since no party appears blameless here. Today’s opinion foregrounds Squire Sanders (US) LLP’s behavior, casting the law firm as the undeserving recipient of millions of dollars in unreasonable legal fees and thus an appropriate target for Hartford’s unjust enrichment action. But there…