Lawrence

Defendants Arthur Lawrence, Lorraine Howell, Arlok, Inc., Stratford International, Inc. and Three-Thirteen Corporation appeal from order granting petition of plaintiff Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney to confirm arbitration award, and denying their (defendants’) petition to vacate award and their motion for leave to file cross-complaint.

Plaintiff law firm rendered legal services to defendants from January 1978 through May 1980 pursuant to an oral contract. Throughout this period plaintiff billed defendants for services rendered. Defendants initially made payments on these bills. However, as of the termination of such representation in May 1980, they had ceased payment, and plaintiff demanded as due and owing the sum of $82,208.25. Upon defendants’ failure to pay, plaintiff filed an action in superior court on an account stated, open book account and quantum meruit. Pursuant to the mandatory fee arbitration provisions of Business and Professions Code section 6200 et seq., defendants requested binding arbitration of the fee dispute. The judicial proceedings were stayed by order of the court until the award of arbitration issued or the arbitration proceeding was…