Cengage Advantage Books: Business Law 9th Edition by Arnold Goldman ,William Sigismond

Exercise 7

Bratman, an attorney, had a client who was injured in an automobile accident and was being treated by Dr. Healy. Bratman orally promised to pay Healy his medical fees out of the proceeds of any award made to his client as the result of a lawsuit based on the accident if the client did not pay the fees. When the client was awarded $15,000 for his injuries, Bratman refused to pay Healy, invoking the statute of frauds. Can Healy legally hold Bratman liable for his oral promise to pay? (Healy v. Bratman, 409 N.Y.S.2d 72)