Vail, Mills & Armstrong v. City of Paris

Mr. Presiding Justice O’Connor

delivered the opinion of the court.

On April 15, 1940 the plaintiffs, a law firm at Decatur, Illinois, entered into a contract with the City of Paris, Illinois, to do certain designated legal work as special counsel in connection with a municipal utility proposed to be constructed by the City. Under the terms of the contract plaintiffs were to receive 3% of the cost of the project for their services, payable out of the proceeds of the sale of public utility certificates to be issued.

In the spring of 1940 the cost for the plant was estimated to be $820,000.

An…