Fred Ehrman v. Cook Electric Company and Northern Telecom Limited

The plaintiff, Fred Ehrman, appeals from the judgment entered by the district court after granting the defendants’ motion for a directed verdict under Fed.R.Civ.P. 50(a).

The plaintiff argues, and we agree, that Illinois law applies to this case.1 To recover a finder’s fee under Illinois law, the plaintiff must demonstrate the existence of an agreement, express or implied, to pay for services in finding an acquisition or merger candidate, and that he was the procuring cause of the ultimate transaction. See Modern Tackle Co. v. Bradley Industries, Inc., 11 Ill.App.3d 502, 297 N.E.2d 688, 692-93…