[DOWNLOAD] "Curtis D. Johnson and Joan M. Johnson v." by Supreme Court of Idaho No. 13676 " Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Curtis D. Johnson and Joan M. Johnson v.
- Author : Supreme Court of Idaho No. 13676
- Release Date : January 08, 1982
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 64 KB
Description
This is an appeal from a summary judgment in favor of defendant-respondent Nagel, an attorney, on plaintiffs-appellants' complaint alleging legal malpractice. The judgment was entered only as to defendant Nagel; a certificate of finality was attached to the order granting summary judgment as required by I.R.C.P. 54(b), and the Johnsons perfected this appeal. The underlying case arose out of the Johnsons' purchase of a mobile home sales business from several of the defendants. The earnest money agreement signed by both buyer and seller provides in pertinent part that the buyer and seller [are] to share equally in attorney's fees. Defendant Nagel prepared the contract of sale. It is undisputed that Nagel reviewed the earnest money agreement prior to drawing up the sales contract and that the Johnsons did in fact pay one-half of Nagel's $250 fee. It is also undisputed that Nagel never spoke with the Johnsons or affirmatively stated that he would represent them. Nagel did not receive a check for his services directly from the parties; he was given a check by defendant First American Title Co. The Johnsons' complaint alleges that Nagel breached his duty to them by failing to disclose his possible conflict of interests and by failing to advise them of the need to inventory the business and their right to receive certain assets. The trial court concluded that (1) no attorney-client relationship existed between Nagel and the Johnsons other than for Nagel to act as scrivener[Footnote 1] for the parties' independently negotiated agreement, and (2) there was no showing that Nagel drew the contract other than in accordance with the parties' wishes.