Barngrover v. Pettigrew

Attorney Barngrover and detective Hughes (plaintiffs) agreed to represent Pettigrew (defendant) in his divorce, with Barngrover to receive $1,000 if he either secured Pettigrew a divorce or was blocked from doing so by Pettigrew's own interference, but only $25 if the divorce failed for any other reason. When the divorce suit was instead compromised, with Pettigrew's wife obtaining an uncontested divorce, Barngrover sued to recover his fee; the trial court directed a verdict for Pettigrew.