Laredo National Bank v. Gordon
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
61 F.2d 906 (1932)
Relevant factsFree
Attorney Gordon (plaintiff), representing Laredo National Bank (defendant) in ongoing settlement negotiations, quoted a $12,500 minimum fee when the bank asked for his fee ahead of a possible resolution; the bank never responded, and Gordon continued representing it through settlement, only for the bank to later call the fee unreasonable and refuse payment. Gordon sued for the fee, the trial court directed a verdict in his favor, and the bank appealed, arguing it never agreed to the offer.
IssueFree
Whether a party who knows his silence will be misinterpreted may be bound by another party's offer, even if he did not respond to or explicitly accept the offer.