attorney's fees | fee dispute | reasonable and necessary fees | fee factors | proof of fees incurred | legal fees | contingency fee contract | fee sharing agreements | fees authorized by statute | contractual attorney fee recover based on contract | Texas Supreme Court fee factors | RECENT HOUSTON APPEALS COURT OPINIONS INVOLVING ATTORNEY FEE CLAIMS AND DISPUTES Cobbs v. Stern, Miller & Higdon (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jul. 2, 2009)(Alcala) (denial of special appearance reversed in interlocutory appeal, attorney-client disputes and litigation, void or voidable contract, solicitation of clients contingency fee agreement as against public policy, affidavit testimony by interested witness, interlocutory appeal-special appearance) REVERSE TRIAL COURT JUDGMENT AND RENDER JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Alcala Before Justices Jennings, Alcala and Higley 01-09-00112-CV John L. Cobbs v. Stern, Miller & Higdon Appeal from 151st District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Michael Engelhart Hilburn v. Providian Holdings, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Nov. 6, 2008)(Taft) (interpretation of easement agreement, untimely designation of expert witness for attorneys fees cured; opportunity to take deposition not take, no error, no harm) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Taft Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Taft and Alcala 01-06-00961-CV Barbara Hilburn v. Providian Holdings, Inc. Appeal from 189th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. William R. Burke. Jr. Williams v. Jackson (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 9, 2008)(Radack) (attorney fee dispute, sworn account suit, no duress, no excuse to payment of attorney's fees per agreement) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Chief Justice Radack Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Nuchia and Higley 01-07-00850-CV Charlie C. Williams v. Freddie N. Jackson Appeal from Co Civil Ct at Law No 4 of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Roberta A. Lloyd Anglo-Dutch Petroleum International, Inc. v. Greenberg Peden, PC (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug 26, 2008)(Boyce) (attorney-client fee dispute, contingency fee agreement) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Boyce Before Justices Hudson, Fowler and Boyce) 14-07-00343-CV Anglo-Dutch Petroleum International, Inc. and Anglo-Dutch (TENGE) L.L.C. v. Greenberg Peden, P.C. and Gerard J. Swonke Appeal from 61st District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: John J. Donovan CA Partners v. Marshall Spears (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 21, 2008)(Fowler) (debt collection, deed of trust, DTPA, DJA, attorneys fees reversed and remanded) AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Fowler Before Justices Fowler, Seymore and Guzman 14-07-00057-CV CA Partners v. Marshall Spears and CitiFinancial, Inc. Appeal from 212th District Court of Galveston County Trial Court Judge: Susan Elizabeth Criss American International Industries, Inc. v. Surgicare (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] July 17, 2008)(Keyes) (indemnification for attorney's fees, establishing reasonable and necessary amount of fees) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Keyes Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Keyes and Higley) 01-07-00116-CV American International Industries, Inc. v. Surgicare, Inc. Appeal from 344th District Court of Chambers County Awoniyi v. Mcwilliams, MD (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] June 10, 2008)(Brown) (HCLC, untimely expert report, attorney's fees award remanded, failure to segregate recoverable an unrecoverable) AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Brown Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown 14-07-00071-CV Oluwakemi Awoniyi & Quadri Ige v. Robert Barton McWilliams., M.D. and the Womans Hospital of Texas Appeal from 152nd District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Kenneth Price Wise In re Heather Sartain (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 3, 2008)(Nuchia) (family law, temporary order for attorneys fees, mandamus granted, divorce, SAPCR, order granting interim attorney's fees lifted] GRANT PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Opinion by Justice Nuchia Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Higley 01-07-00920-CV In re Heather Sartain Appeal from 306th District Court of Galveston County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Janis L. Yarbrough Koval v. Kirkland Contractors, Inc. (Tex.App,- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 15, 2008)(Davie Wilson) (res judicata, attorney's fees) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Judge Wilson Before Judge Wilson, Justices Alcala and Hanks 01-06-00067-CV Linda Koval v. Henry Kirkland Contractors, Inc. Appeal from Probate Court No 3 of Harris County (Judge Hon. Rory R. Olsen) In re Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 21, 2008)(Frost) (attorney-client fee dispute, intellectual property representation) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Opinion by Justice Frost Before Justices Anderson, Fowler and Frost 14-07-00402-CV In Re: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Et Al Appeal from 11th District Court of Harris County (Judge Mark Davidson) City of Galveston, Texas, and BP v. Saint-Paul (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 14, 2008)(Alcala) (Open Meetings Act, standing, attorney's fees) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT IN PART, REVERSE TC JUDGMENT IN PART, AND REMAND CASE TO TC FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS: Opinion by Justice Alcala (Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Jennings and Alcala) 01-06-00580-CV The City of Galveston, Texas; BP Energy Company, Intervenor; Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves v. Nancy Saint-Paul--Appeal from 122nd District Court of Galveston County Section 551.142 of the Government Code provides that a prevailing party in a Texas Open Meetings Act suit may recover its fees and costs. Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 551.142 (Vernon 2004). Whether to make an award of fees and costs under the Act falls within the trial court’s sound discretion. Bell, 994 S.W.2d at 867. Here, the trial court granted the relief sought by Saint-Paul against the City, but ordered that each party bear its own attorney’s fees and costs. Because we have reversed the trial court’s judgment concerning the Act as against the City, we remand for the trial court to exercise its discretion whether to award attorney’s fees to the City. See Odessa Tex. Sheriff’s Posse, 215 S.W.3d at 474 (remanding for attorney’s fees issue when trial court did not have chance to exercise its discretion under Act); Moosavideen v. Garrett, No. 01-06-00002-CV, 2007 WL 2130566, at *8 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 26, 2007, no pet. h.) (remanding to trial court to reconsider attorney’s fees issue when trial court’s declaratory judgment was reversed). We sustain the City’s second issue. Koval v. Kirkland Contractors, Inc. (Tex.App,- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 15, 2008)(Wilson) (res judicata, attorney's fees) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Judge Wilson Before Judge Wilson, Justices Alcala and Hanks 01-06-00067-CV Linda Koval v. Henry Kirkland Contractors, Inc. Appeal from Probate Court No 3 of Harris County (Judge Hon. Rory R. Olsen) Yeh v. MacOugall (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 17, 2008)(Alcala)(breach of contract, counterclaim, attorney's fees, prevailing party) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Alcala Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Bland 01-06-00509-CV Peter J. Yeh v. David J. MacDougall, D.O., P.A. d/b/a Neurosurgical Association of Houston Appeal from 333rd District Court of Harris County (Hon. Joseph Halbach) Alleged Referral-Fee Agreement Not Enforceable - Summary Judgment for Defendant Affirmed Valentine v. Cunningham (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 17, 2008)(Jennings) (attorney referral fee agreement, no enforceable contract, BoC) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Jennings Before Justices Nuchia, Jennings and Keyes 01-07-00054-CV Michael J. Valentine v. Lloyd R. Cunningham, Jr., and Cunningham & Associates, P.C. Appeal from 151st District Court of Harris County (Hon. Caroline Baker) Full recovery of attorney fees in FLSA case denied - appeals court affirms Vernon v. CAC Distributors, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 9, 2007)(Alcala)(FLSA attorneys fees) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Alcala Before Judge Price, Justices Alcala and Hanks 01-06-00009-CV Donna H. Vernon v. Time Energy Systems of the South-West n/k/a CAD Distributors, Inc. Appeal from 234th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Reece Rondon) Zero attorneys fees award stands Rosenblatt v. Freedom Life Ins. Co. (Tex..App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 2, 2007(Radack)(attorneys fees) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Chief Justice Radack Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Jennings and Bland 01-05-01107-CV Michael Rosenblatt v. Freedom Life Insurance Company of America; Ascent Assurance, Inc., and National Care Marketing, Inc. Appeal from 295th District Court of Harris County (Hon. Tracy Christopher) This is a single-issue appeal premised on a partial reporter's record. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(c)(1). Appellant, Michael Rosenblatt, challenges denial of his motion to set aside jury findings that resulted in no recovery on Rosenblatt's request for an award of attorneys' fees. Rosenblatt contends that an award of $500,000 in attorneys' fees was proper, notwithstanding the jury's verdict, and contends that we are compelled to render judgment in his favor as a matter of law, because (1) he was statutorily entitled to attorneys' fees and (2) the evidence supporting his request for attorneys' fees is uncontroverted. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 301 (authorizing judgment notwithstanding verdict). Because Rosenblatt seeks only rendition, and not a remand for trial, we conclude there is no reversible error and affirm. * * * Because the evidence presented in support of Rosenblatt's claim for attorneys' fees is not conclusive as a matter of law and thus precludes that relief, we cannot render the judgment that Rosenblatt seeks. See McMillin, 180 S.W.3d at 211 ("We cannot render judgment . . . because the evidence is not conclusive."). Though our sister court reversed and ordered a remand in McMillin, the appellant there had alternatively requested that relief. See id. at 210-11 (stating that sustaining legal-sufficiency issue removed need to address factual sufficiency of evidence). That alternative is not presented here. Accordingly, we overrule Rosenblatt's sole issue. Buhman v. James Leigh McGaughy (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Jul. 24, 2007) (Guzman) (partnership, oral contract, attorneys' fees, conversion) Opinion by Justice Guzman Before Justices Frost, Seymore and Guzman 14-05-01215-CV Larry A. Buhman v. James Leigh McGaughy Appeal from 127th District Court of Harris County (Judge Sharolyn P. Wood) - Reversed and Remanded Dilston House Condominium Association v. White (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] May 19, 2007)(Mirabal)(homeowner law, condominium declarations, bylaws, attorneys fees) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Mirabal Before Justices Frost and Mirabal 14-05-00960-CV Dilston House Condominium Association v. Dianne White Appeal from County Civil Court at Law No 1 of Harris County (Hon. R. Jack Cagle) Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance Company of America v. Criaco (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Jun. 7, 2007)(Frost)(auto-PI, UIM coverage, workers comp, standing of law firm to pursue attorneys fees claim) Sap Trading, Inc v. Mohammed Sohani (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Jun. 5, 2007) (Edelman) [attorney's fees, postjudgment interest] AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED & REMANDED IN PART: Opinion by Justice Edelman Before Justices Brock Yates, Edelman and Seymore 14-06-00641-CV Sap Trading, Inc v. Mohammed Sohani and AAA King Corp d/b/a King Importer and Wholesaler--Appeal from County Civil Court at Law No 2 of Harris County (Judge Gary Michael Block) Stevens v. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Jun. 5, 2007)(Fowler)(association law, autonomy voluntary associations, attorney's fees, unjust enrichment, refund) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Fowler Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman 14-06-00367-CV Rhea C. Stevens v. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. Appeal from County Court at Law of Austin County (Judge Gladys M. Oakley) Travelers Indemnity Co of Conn. v. Espinosa (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] May 31, 2007)(Hanks)(workers comp, atty fees) (workers compensation, jurisdiction, atttorney's fees) MODIFY TC JUDGMENT AND AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT AS MODIFIED: Opinion by Justice Hanks Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Bland 01-05-00836-CV Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut v. Jesus Espinosa Appeal from 61st District Court of Harris County (Hon. John Donovan)An unconditional award of an appellant's appellate attorney's fees is improper. Id. at 607-08. Therefore, the trial court must condition the award of appellate attorney's fees upon the appellant's unsuccessful appeal. Id. at 607. However, an unconditional award of appellate attorney's fees does not require reversal; instead, we may modify a trial court's judgment to make the award of appellate attorney's fees contingent upon the receiving party's success on appeal. Pao v. Brays Vill. E. Homeowners Ass'n, 905 S.W.2d 35, 38- 39 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, no writ). We sustain Travelers' fourth issue and reform the judgment.") Hardy v. Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] May 3, 2007) (Alcala) (attorneys fees) We conclude that, in accordance with the express language of the agreement showing that the parties' intent was to allow unenforceable provisions of the agreement to be severed, the parties retained their obligations under the remainder of the agreement, with the exclusion of the invalid client-purchase provisions. We hold that the trial court erred by declining to award any attorney's fees to Fielding under the terms of the employment agreement that provided that in "the event of litigation between the parties hereto arising out of or connected with this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover . . . actual attorneys fees." We therefore remand to the trial court for determination of the amount of attorney's fees to be awarded to Fielding. McLean Bowers v. Speer Taylor (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] May 3, 2007)(Alcala) (UDJA, deed, mineral estate dispute, fee simple ownership, attorneys fees) Bowers contends on appeal that declaratory judgment is not the appropriate vehicle for Taylor's lawsuit. They assert that the suit is in the nature of a trespass to try title action, and therefore the trial court erred by awarding attorney's fees under the Declaratory Judgments Act. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 37.009. In the alternative, Bowers asserts that because the trial court's declaratory judgment was error, its award of attorney's fees was not equitable or just, and therefore was error. . . . Following a hearing, the trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law that stated that Taylor was entitled to attorney's fees because "Plaintiffs prevailed on their request for a declaratory judgment concerning the meaning and legal effect of the Deed's terms." Having determined that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of Taylor in the declaratory judgment action, we reverse and remand the trial court's award of attorney's fees to Taylor that were entered in accordance with that declaratory judgment for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. Conclusion. We hold that summary judgment was improperly granted by rendering a declaratory judgment that Bowers did not receive a fee simple interest in the mineral estate. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion Travelers Indemnity Co of Conn. v. Espinosa (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] May 31, 2007)(Hanks) (workers comp, atty fees, jurisdiction, attorney's fees] MODIFY TC JUDGMENT AND AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT AS MODIFIED: Opinion by Justice Hanks Before Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Bland 01-05-00836-CV Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut v. Jesus Espinosa Appeal from 61st District Court of Harris County (Judge John Donovan) Oko v. Oguntope (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 22, 2007)(Taft) (fraud, attorney's fees) Haden v. Sacks (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Mar 8, 2007, pet. granted)(Radack) (breach of contract, BoC, attorney fees agreement dispute) Justice Alcala wrote separately in Haden v. Sacks 2007-2008 SUPREME COURT OPINIONS ON ATTORNEYS' FEES Parol evidence rule bars modification of written fee agreement David J. Sacks, PC v. McIntre Haden, No. 07-0472 (Tex. July 11, 2008)(per curiam) (attorney's fee collection suit, hourly fee contract, parol evidence rule bars oral modification of fee arrangements) Sacks , PC v. Haden, No. 07-0487 (Tex. July 11, 2008)(per curiam) (turnover order to enforce judgment in attorney's fees collection case) Attorney fee issue remanded for redetermination after substantial reduction of damage award Bossier Chrysler-Dodge II, Inc. v. Rauschenberg, No. 06-0874 (Tex. Nov. 2, 2007)(per curiam)(attorney's fees remand) Question presented: Whether the case should be remanded for a new trial on attorney’s fees. A divided court of appeals affirmed the attorney’s fees award although it reduced the trial court’s damage award by eighty-seven percent. 201 S.W.3d 787. The issue of attorney’s fees should ordinarily be retried under these circumstances unless the appellate court is “reasonably certain that the jury was not significantly influenced by the erroneous [damage award].” Barker v. Eckman, 213 S.W.3d 306 (Tex. 2006). Barker issued after the court of appeals’ opinion in this case, and thus the court of appeals did not have the benefit of that decision. Accordingly, without hearing oral argument pursuant to Rule 59.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the supreme court grant the petition for review and reverses that part of the court of appeals’ judgment regarding attorney’s fees, and remand the case to the court of appeals for its consideration of the attorney’s fees issue in light of Barker. Supreme Court remands attorney fee claim for segregation A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. v. Beyer., No. 05-0580 (Tex. Sep. 28, 2007)(Wainwright) (financial services, breach of contract, joint account with right of survivorship, probate code, attorney's fees) ("The second issue presented in this petition for review is whether Alicia was required to segregate attorney’s fees between her breach of contract and tort causes of action. In Tony Gullo Motors v. Chapa, we recently re-affirmed the rule that “if any attorney’s fees relate solely to a claim for which such fees are unrecoverable, a claimant must segregate recoverable from unrecoverable fees.” 212 S.W.3d 299, 313 (Tex. 2006). It is only when legal services advance both recoverable and unrecoverable claims that the services are so intertwined that the associated fees need not be segregated. Id. at 313–14. We reverse the judgment of the court of appeals in part and remand the case for a new trial on attorney’s fees. Id. at 314 (“Unsegregated attorney’s fees for the entire case are some evidence of what the segregated amount should be.”). . . . We affirm in part and reverse in part the judgment of the court of appeals and remand the case to the trial court for a new trial on attorney’s fees.") Supreme Court declines invitation to allow for two trials on attorneys fees when one will do; reiterates requirement to segregate fees, but recognizes exception for intertwined counterclaims that require the resolution of the same factual dispute Varner v. Cardenas, No. 06-0212 (Tex. Mar. 2, 2007)(per curiam) Also see Tony Gullo Motors v. Chapa, No. 04-0961 (Tex. Dec. 22, 2006)(Justice Brister) (litigants must segregate recoverable from unrecoverable attorney's fees in all cases) Case type: suit on note, real estate law, title defect, suing title insurance company and its agent Key legal terms: attorney fee segregation, other claims, claims against third parties, counterclaims, breach of contract, mutual mistake, reformation of deed, shortfall in acreage No prejudgment interest on entire balance of note sued on in the absence of proof of date of acceleration Supreme Court orders new trial on attorney's fees following reduction of damages by the court of appeals Young v. Qualls, No. 05-1091 (Tex. May 4, 2007)(per curiam)(attorneys fees) Case type: suit for breach of partnership agreement for real estate development. Court of appeals affirmed jury finding of liability, but suggested remittiture regarding amount of damages. Supreme Court remands to trial court for new trial on attorney's fees in accordance with Barker v. Eckman, 213 S.W.3d 306 (Tex. 2006). Court reasons that in consideration of results obtained, i.e. the substantial reduction of damages as a result of the appeal, trial court may have awarded less. Court rejects contention that right to retry attorneys fees was waived on appeal. 2006 TEXAS SUPREME COURT OPINIONS ON ATTORNEY'S FEES Fee Contract Provision Requiring Payment of Attorney's Contingency Interest upon premature termination of representation found unconscionable and against public policy Hoover Slovacek v. Walton, No. 04-1004 (Tex. Nov. 3, 2006)(Jefferson) (attorneys fees, contingent fees) Justice Hecht delivered a dissenting opinion in Slovacek v. Walton |
| Caselaw on Attorneys Fees from Houston Courts of Appeals and from the Texas Supreme Court (Tex. 2007, 2008) Also see: Attorney and Guardian ad litem (GAL) fees Houston Opinions |
