Whipple & King, P.C. v. Donahue

This is an action by a law firm to collect an outstanding legal fee from a former client. After a jury-waived trial, the judge ordered the entry of judgment for the defendant on the ground that the action was time barred by the applicable statute of limitations.1 The law firm appealed.

On April 5,1995, John Donohue (“Donohue”), a resident of Lexington, signed a domestic relations client-fee agreement with a law firm then known as Ledoux, Whipple & King, P.C.2 of Salem. Donohue was to be represented by attorney Celeste R. Niarchos, a partner at the firm, and attorneys Susan Lillis and Ian W.…