Pierce

In an action for attorneys’ fees alleged to have been earned, judgment was rendered upon a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, from which judgment the defendant appealed.

At a stage of certain litigation theretofore commenced, the appellant in June, 1926, entered into a contract in writing employing the respondents to “attempt to enforce a contract for supplying water to his land in Ventura County, made by S. L. Stuart and Martha A. Stuart, either through an action already commenced or by other proceedings as may be found best, or possibly other case or cases”. Said contract was set forth in the complaint herein, which alleged that said litigation had been prosecuted through trials of questions of law and to the perfection of appeal. Since the trial of the instant case said pleadings have been approved by the Supreme Court with directions that the demurrer be overruled.

Respondents prayed reasonable fees to the date of their discharge. Admitting the employment and subsequent discharge, the answer dilated at length upon the plight of the defendant client in which neighbors manifested pity because of his enforced abstention from agricultural pursuits through lack of water, and…