Kuist v. Hodge
This matter involves two consolidated appeals in an action involving a dispute between three former partners of a law firm over the distribution of a $41 million contingency fee received by the firm several years after two attorneys left the firm.
In the first appeal (case no. B193863), a partner, respondent Jefferson Gross, was awarded just over $4 million in compensatory damages after a jury concluded appellants breached an implied oral agreement to pay Gross 10 percent of the contingency fee. Another partner, respondent Gary Kuist, was awarded 11 percent of the contingency fee, or about $4.5 million. Gross and Kuist also received punitive damage awards of approximately $646,000 and $1.3 million, respectively. Appellants - Grosss and Kuists former law partner, Richard E. Hodge; their former partnership, Richard E. Hodge, LLP; and the corporation formed after the partnership was dissolved, Richard E. Hodge, Inc., - assert numerous bases for reversal. The judgment in the action by Gross and Kuist against Richard E. Hodge, Richard E. Hodge, Inc., and Richard E. Hodge, LLP is affirmed. Kuist and Gross are to recover their costs of appeal.
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