Calvert v. Mayberry

**What Happened** This case involved a dispute between an attorney (Calvert) and a client (Mayberry) over a contract and attorney fees. The attorney had entered into a contract with the client without following required professional rules that govern attorney-client business relationships. The client later sued, and the case went through multiple court levels, with disagreements about who should pay attorney fees. **What the Court Decided** The Colorado Supreme Court made a mixed ruling. They found that when attorneys don't follow the required professional rules when making contracts with clients, those contracts are generally invalid and go against public policy. However, the court allowed the attorney to collect fees for defending against what they determined was a frivolous lawsuit at the trial level. The court reversed a decision that would have required payment of additional fees for the appeals process, finding those appeals were legitimate. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling protects clients (including workers who hire attorneys) by reinforcing that lawyers must follow strict professional rules when entering business relationships with their clients. If attorneys skip these requirements, the contracts can be thrown out. However, clients should be aware that they may still face consequences if courts determine their lawsuits lack merit.