Can a Florida Law Firm Get Attorneys Fees For Litigating Its Entitlement to Quantum Meruit Fees?

When is a Florida probate or civil law firm entitled to quantum meruit fees? What should your lawyer know about attorney fee litigation in Florida? Will your West Palm Beach law firm be entitled to attorneys fees for litigating their entitlement to fees ? A recent Florida appellate opinion from the Fourth DCA discusses quantum meruit fees, bad faith, and the inequitable conduct doctrine. 

In Corominas v. Ajay Development Group, LLC, the trial court found that a Florida law firm was entitled to attorneys fees in a case where it had been discharged prior to the case resolving. Here, in addition to the quantum meruit fees, the trial court awarded the discharged law firm fees for litigating its entitlement to the quantum meruit fees. The trial court awarded these additional fees based on the fact that the appellants ” took the bad faith position that the discharged law firm was not entitled to quantum meruit fees.” However, the appellate court agreed with the appellants that the trial court did not make the required factual finding to support a bad faith finding. What did they need to show in order to prove bad faith? To read the entire opinion, click here.