Ward v. Forde’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

10 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 10 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"The testimony of attorney Ward is not discredited to the effect that the Fordes when instituting the suit were in financial difficulties; that the attorney demanded of the Fordes an agreement about fees during the program of the litigation. The attorney outlined to them his conception of the amount of a fee. The Fordes knew intervenors and additional parcels of land were brought into the suit and they had only paid part of a fee at the time. The attorney's letter pointed out that $2,500 was his minimum fee. The Fordes had the power to dismiss the suit before final decree but they did not; they knew the restrictions rendered their investment worthless and a removal would establish a sound investment. It is equitable and just to conclude under the peculiar conditions and circumstances that the Fordes by continuance of the suit, with a knowledge of its broad and comprehensive ramifications, established on their part an implied promise to pay a reasonable fee for the labor and services performed. See Knabb v. Mabry, 137 Fla. 530 , 188 So. 586 . "It is our view that the plaintiff in the case at bar is entitled to a reasonable fee, less the amount of previous payments made, and that an equitable lien be decreed against the three lots for the amount thereof."”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 107 So. 2d 238 - Billingham v. Thiele