Lawrence v. Miller

OPINION OF THE COURT

Andrias, J.P.

In these appeals arising from a Surrogate’s Court proceeding to determine what legal fees are due to the law firm of Graubard Miller for its representation of Alice Lawrence and her son Richard Lawrence in connection with the estate of her late husband, the principal issue presented is whether a 2005 revised retainer agreement calling for Mrs. Lawrence to pay a contingency fee of 40% of any future monies distributed to the beneficiaries of the estate is unconscionable on its face. We find that, *4while at first blush such agreement might arguably seem excessive…