Skeens v. Miller

KARWACKI, Judge.

We issued a writ of certiorari in this case to determine at what time an attorney, who is retained on a contingent fee agreement and who is discharged without cause by the client prior to the occurrence of the contingency, may recover for the reasonable value of the services performed prior to discharge.

I

On June 28, 1989, respondent, Helen Martha Miller, retained petitioner, Edward John Skeens, to represent her in a personal injury claim arising out of an automobile accident that had occurred several days earlier. Their written agreement embodied a typical contingent fee…