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Cordell Cordell PC v. Gao

The law firm breached its contract with a former client and breached its fiduciary duty to him when it billed for work in a manner that placed the firm's financial interests above the client's interests.

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Shaojun Gao sued his former law firm, Cordell Cordell, P.C. hereinafter, the firm for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and money had and received in connection with alleged overbilling. The case went to a jury, which found in favor of Gao and awarded him $23,213.70, the same amount that a panel of arbitrators previously had awarded Gao in nonbinding arbitration under the State Bar of Georgia’s fee arbitration process.

The firm appeals from the judgment entered on that jury award. It argues that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the arbitration award and portions of a recording of a telephone call between Gao and a former lawyer of the firm, and that the trial court should have granted its motion for directed verdict on all of Gao’s claims. The trial court, however, did not err in admitting the challenged evidence, the evidence supported the denial of the directed verdict motion on the breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims, and the firm did not argue to the trial court the specific ground upon which it now claims entitlement to a directed verdict on the remaining claims. For these reasons, we affirm.

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