NORMA SLATER-MOORE v. CHRISTIAN T. GOELDNER, PAIGE ANN MCDOWELL AND THE GOELDNER LAW FIRM PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, f/k/a GOELDNER & GILL, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, f/k/a GOELDNER, MCDOWELL, ABBOTT & GILL, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, f/k/a GOELDNER, PORTER & MCDOWELL, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, f/k/a GOELDNER AND WALSH, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, 113 So. 3d 521

Summary

The client entered into a contract with the law firm and its various attorneys to represent her in a lawsuit regarding the purchase of her home. After summary judgment was entered against the client, she entered into another contract with the firm for its handling of her appeal. Both contracts indicated that any attorney-fee disputes would be submitted to arbitration. The client lost the appeal, and she thereafter filed suit against the firm for legal malpractice and other claims. As part of her allegations, she asserted that the firm engaged in billing misconduct. The firm's motion to compel arbitration of claims regarding excessive or improper legal fees was granted by the trial court. On interlocutory appeal, the court found that although no one from the firm signed the parties' contract, the parties' actions made it clear that they intended to be bound by the terms of the written agreement. There was no showing that the agreement to arbitrate was not valid or enforceable, and the ...