Law for Business 10th Edition by James Barnes,Terry Dworkin,Eric Richards

Exercise 6

Valentine, an adult, was charged with criminal assault. His parents contacted the Crozier law firm about representing him, and the firm agreed. It claimed the parents orally agreed to guarantee payment for the legal fees incurred by their son. Valentine's mother paid a retainer fee of $250. The firm represented the son until the parents asked it to stop. The firm claimed it was owed $4,200, and sued the parents for that amount. The parents defended by citing the statute of frauds. Is the parents' oral promise enforceable?