In the world of high-stakes legal battles, most people expect mahogany desks and formal contracts. But for John Basset, an attorney licensed since 1965, a major legal dispute began at a Barnes & Noble coffee shop with nothing more than a questionnaire and a $1,000 handshake.

The “Brain-Picking” Trap

John Basset brought his former client, Terry Buyers, to The People’s Court claiming she had “stiffed” him for $1,255 in unpaid legal fees. According to Basset, he had drafted divorce pleadings, filed the case in Multnomah County, and spent hours on the phone advising Terry through a “nasty” split involving allegations of a violent husband and custody concerns.

Terry, however, had a different story. She felt she had been “taken for a ride.” She claimed that when things got tough—specifically when her husband filed a “status quo” order to keep their son in the family home—Basset told her there was nothing he could do. Frustrated, Terry took matters into her own hands. She went to the courthouse, filed her own motions, and secured a temporary custody hearing without him.

“I did it all on my own,” Terry argued, “so I owe nothing.”

The Fatal Mistake: No Paperwork

The case took a sharp turn when Judge Milian began digging into the “business” side of their relationship. Despite having 46 years of experience, Basset admitted he never had Terry sign a written retainer agreement.

“I didn’t have one with me at the time,” Basset explained, referring to their meeting at the coffee shop.

The Judge was incredulous. Without a contract, Basset was billing Terry at $380 an hour—a rate she claimed she never agreed to. When the Judge looked at the itemized bill, she found it padded with endless “$50” and “$63” charges for “telephone calls with client.”

“How much can you milk this?” the Judge asked, noting that nearly 80% of the bill consisted of phone calls and no actual court appearances.

The Verdict: A Middle Ground

Judge Milian didn’t hold back on either side. She called Basset’s lack of a retainer “sloppy” and unprofessional for a veteran attorney. At the same time, she called out Terry for “picking the brain” of an expert and then refusing to pay for the knowledge she gained.

Of the initial $1,000 Terry paid, $418 went to court filing fees, leaving Basset with only $582 for his time. The Judge decided that while Basset didn’t deserve his full $380/hour rate, Terry couldn’t walk away for free after receiving professional advice and drafted documents.

The Final Judgment: $700 for the plaintiff.

The Lesson Learned

As the parties left the courtroom, the message was clear:

For Clients: Never hire a professional without a signed agreement that specifies hourly rates and fee caps.

For Professionals: No matter how long you’ve been in the business, a “handshake deal” at a coffee shop is a recipe for a lawsuit.

As Judge Milian noted, when you don’t put it in writing, you’re just inviting “disorder in the court.”