In re the Marriage of Adugna

Marquardt, J.:

Scott Wasserman, former counsel for Derib Adugna, appeals the trial court’s order that he pay $500 of the fees owed to Marilyn Slezak, Israel A. Adugna’s attorney. We reverse.

Wasserman represented Derib in a divorce action. At the close of the trial on May 20, 2003, the trial court ordered Wasserman to prepare the decree.

During the following 2 weeks, Slezak made several calls to Wasserman attempting to obtain the decree. Israel needed the signed decree to obtain a loan to refinance her home. On June 6, 2003, Wasserman told Slezak that he would have the decree for her by June 9.…