Parties' Stipulation of Fee Due to Discharged Attorney Must Be Honored

The Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on Friday ruled that judge of compensation claims overstepped her authority by refusing to honor an agreement between a claimant's former attorney and current counsel on the fair value of services rendered before the new attorney took over the case. Claimant Eli Reyes had not contested his former attorney's claim for payment, and he even stipulated to the exact amount he thought the former attorney should receive. But the JCC refused to honor the parties' agreement, saying she wanted to know why the attorney had been discharged, and what be...