King v. Young, Berkman, Berman & Karpf

Richard King (defendant) hired the law firm of Young, Berkman, Berman & Karpf, P.A. (plaintiff) for his divorce, agreeing to a $25,000 retainer plus hourly rates, along with a clause entitling the firm to an additional "bonus" fee - determined by the firm itself as reasonable and fair - if the matter concluded in King's divorce. King ultimately paid the firm $342,989 in hourly fees, the firm secured his divorce, and then demanded a $750,000 bonus; when King refused, the firm sued for $1,150,000, and the trial court awarded it $525,000 in additional fees, which King appealed as an improper contingency fee tied to a divorce outcome.