Forthuber v. First Liberty - corrected 11/17/17

Appellant challenges the adequacy of his attorney’s. fee award, pursuant to section 627.428, Florida Statutes (2010), rendered in this first-party insurance dispute. As the first of two issues raised on appeal, we address whether the trial court erred by refusing to' consider the hours expended by Appellant’s attorney while he was working at a prior law firm—the firm that originated the claim on Appellant’s behalf. The trial court categorically rejected these hours because that firm had withdrawn from representing Appellant before conclusion of the case, thereby waiving any claim to a fee. We…