Opinion
Docket No. 103758.
Decided February 21, 1990. Leave to appeal applied for.
Foster, Swift, Collins Coey, P.C. (by Webb A. Smith and Frank A. Fleishman), for plaintiffs.
John B. Curcio, for defendants.
Before: WEAVER, P.J., and BRENNAN and NEFF, JJ.
Defendants appeal as of right from an order of judgment entered against them and in favor of plaintiffs in the amount of $237,829.47 plus costs and interest and in favor of defendants and against plaintiffs in the amount of $1 plus costs and interest on defendants' counterclaim. Defendants also filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial, which was denied by the trial court. We affirm.
I
Defendants claim that the trial court erred in denying their motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, for a new trial. Defendants argue that Turner breached his fiduciary duty to defendants by failing to present defendants with reliable, accurate, and appropriate bills for services rendered and that an attorney who breaches his fiduciary duty to his client forfeits the right to compensation.
A trial judge may grant a new trial when the verdict is "clearly or grossly inadequate or excessive," MCR 2.611(A)(1)(d), or when the verdict is "against the great weight of the evidence or contrary to law." MCR 2.611(A)(1)(e).
A decision on a motion for a new trial is within the discretion of the trial court and will not be overturned absent a clear abuse of discretion. Stallworth v Hazel, 167 Mich. App. 345, 353; 421 N.W.2d 685 (1988). This Court reviews such a decision to determine whether the jury's verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Troyanowski v Village of Kent City, 175 Mich. App. 217, 223; 437 N.W.2d 266 (1988).
A trial court's denial of a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict is reviewed to determine whether there are material issues of fact upon which reasonable minds might differ. Means v Jowa Security Services, 176 Mich. App. 466, 471; 440 N.W.2d 23 (1989). In deciding a motion for directed verdict or for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, a trial court must examine the testimony and all legitimate inferences that may be drawn from that testimony in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party. When the evidence is such that reasonable jurors could disagree, neither the trial court nor this Court may substitute its judgment for that of the jury. Means, supra.
In reviewing motions for a new trial and motions for a directed verdict, this Court recognizes the unique opportunity of the jury and trial judge to observe the witnesses. Stallworth, supra, p 354. Here, plaintiffs and defendants presented contradictory testimony which required the jury to determine the credibility of the witnesses.
Defendants' claim that the jury verdict was erroneous as a matter of law rests on the proposition that any breach of a fiduciary duty by an attorney precludes collection of legal fees and costs. However, none of the cases cited by defendants involves the failure of an attorney to bill his clients in a timely and accurate fashion. We are unconvinced that an attorney is precluded by the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct from receiving compensation simply because a client disagrees with the accounting system or payment schedule employed by the attorney.
II
Defendants also contend that the $1 award on their counterclaim constitutes plain error and should shock the judicial conscience. We disagree that this verdict is grossly inadequate and contrary to the great weight of the evidence pertaining to the damages sustained by defendants.
Affirmed.