Caparella-Kraemer & Assoc., L.L.C. v. Grayson

Citations

• 155 N.E.3d 77
• 2020 Ohio 3498

Syllabus

Appellant, former client of a law firm, appeals small claims judgment in favor of law firm and against him for unpaid attorney fees. Appellant objected to multiple billings by firm that had represented him in his divorce. At a bench trial, law firm submitted its final invoice of unpaid fees but presented minimal evidence as to reasonableness and necessity of time incurred and the reasonableness of the hourly fee charged. The court erred by not considering the reasonableness of the fees charged and by improperly placing the burden of proof on appellant to prove the impropriety of the firm's billings.