Brennan, Steil, Basting & MacDougall, S.C. v. Colby

Donald F. Colby appeals from a judgment in favor of Brennan, Steil, Basting & MacDougall, S.C., a Janesville law firm, sustaining the firm's claim against Colby for fees of $2501.381 for legal services provided to Colby's then-fiancée, Susan Ket-tler, in a mortgage-foreclosure action.

The dispositive issue is whether Colby agreed to pay the firm's fees for its representation of Kettler in the action and, if so, whether that agreement is unenforceable because it was not in writing, as required by the statute of frauds, § 241.02(l)(b), STATS. Insofar as it is pertinent here, the statute states…