ROSHKIND v. MACHIELA

• Decision Date: 14 July 2010
• Docket Number: No. 4D10-203.,4D10-203.
• Citation: 45 So.3d 480
• Parties: ROBIN ROSHKIND, P.A., Appellant, v. Belinda Charlene MACHIELA, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

45 So.3d 480

ROBIN ROSHKIND, P.A., Appellant,

v.Belinda Charlene MACHIELA, Appellee.

No. 4D10-203.

District Court of Appeal of Florida,Fourth District.

July 14, 2010.

Robin Roshkind, West Palm Beach, and Robin Bresky, Boca Raton, for appellant.

No brief filed on behalf of appellee.

MAY, J.

The long-standing requirement of independent expert witness testimony to support a claim for attorney's fees is challenged in this appeal. The law firm appeals an order denying its motion for attorney's fees based on a charging lien. It argues that independent expert witness testimony is unnecessary in the enforcement of a charging lien against a client. We find no error in the trial court's ruling and affirm. We do however find merit in the law firm's argument and therefore certify the question.

The client entered into a retainer agreement for representation in a dissolution of marriage proceeding. The agreement provided for an initial non-refundable retainer, an hourly rate for attorney and paralegal time, and a lien for monies due under the agreement. The agreement also required the client to notify the firm in writing within thirty days if there was an objection to the fees charged.

The client paid $48,268 of the total billed, leaving a balance of $57,785.28. The client did not object in writing to the fees charged. In the dissolution action, the firm filed a Notice of Charging Lien, a Corrected Motion for Entry of Final Judgment Adjudicating Charging Lien and for Entry of a Money Judgment, and a Motion to Withdraw. The trial court granted the Motion to Withdraw on October 21, 2009, held a final hearing of the dissolution on December 15 and 17, 2009, and heard the law firm's attorney's fees motion four days later.

At the December 21st hearing, the responsible attorney testified to the firm's engagement and the client's failure to object to the bills in writing as provided for in the retainer agreement. In addition, the court received into evidence the retainer agreement, the complete billing history, and the Notice of Charging Lien. The court denied the firm's motion based upon its failure to call an independent expert witness to testify concerning the reasonableness of the fees.

The firm appeals the order denying fees and argues the court erred in requiring independent expert witness testimony. ¹ We review trial court orders on attorney's fees for an abuse of discretion. Glantz & Glantz, P.A. v. Chinchilla, 17 So.3d 711, 713 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009). We have de novo review however of the trial court's interpretation of law. G.S. v. T.B., 985 So.2d 978, 982 (Fla.2008).

In Rosenberg v. Levin, 409 So.2d 1016 (Fla.1982), our Supreme Court held “that an attorney employed under a valid contract who is discharged without cause before the contingency has occurred or before the client's matters have concluded can recover only the reasonable value of his services rendered prior to discharge, limited by the maximum contract fee.” Id. at 1021. Rosenberg clarified that quantum meruit limited by the contract, dictated the proper measure of fees when the attorney is discharged before the end of the case. Yet, here, the client did not discharge the attorney, the attorney withdrew.

Generally, “where a party seeks to have the opposing party in a lawsuit pay for attorney's fees incurred ... independent expert testimony is required.” Sea World of Fla., Inc. v. Ace Am. Ins. Cos., Inc., 28 So.3d 158, 160 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010), review granted, 36 So.3d 83, 2010 WL 2383319 (Fla.2010) (expert witness testimony is unnecessary in litigation over fees incurred to defend breach of contract action). And, case law throughout this state has adhered to the requirement of an independent expert witness to establish the reasonableness of fees, regardless of whether a first or third party is responsible for payment. Sourcetrack, LLC v. Ariba, Inc., 34 So.3d 766 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010).

We have, however, previously questioned the judicially-created requirement of independent expert witness testimony in establishing the reasonableness of attorney's fees. See Island Hoppers, Ltd. v. Keith, 820 So.2d 967, 972 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002), reversed on other grounds by Sarkis v. Allstate Ins. Co., 863 So.2d 210 (Fla.2003); see also Robert J. Hauser et al., Is Expert Testimony Really Needed in Attorneys' Fee Litigation, 77 Fla. Bar J. 38 (Jan. 2003). Nevertheless it remains etched in our case law. This is because attorneys have an ethical duty, pursuant to the Florida Rules Regulating the Florida Bar, to charge fair and reasonable fees, regardless of the terms of the fee agreement. See Elser v. Law Offices of James M. Russ, P.A., 679 So.2d 309, 312-13 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996). “The establishment of a reasonable fee for an attorney's service is not simply the number of hours times the hourly rate.” Schwartz, Gold & Cohen, P.A. v. Streicher, 549 So.2d 1044, 1046 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989). While the reasonableness of fees charged is, and should remain, an important consideration, it is a factor that may not mandate an expert independent of the litigating...